Increased aircraft activity expected during large-scale training exercise at Fort Campbell

Operation Lethal Eagle will utilize around two dozen aircrafts for training starting on Jan. 18.

By 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) Public Affairs

Contributed

January 14, 2026 9:31 am

Christian County NowA Black Hawk and a Chinook helicopter from Fort Campbell conduct a flyover on April 13, 2023. (Lee Erwin)

FORT CAMPBELL, KY – The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) will conduct Operation Lethal Eagle (OLE) 26.1, a large-scale training exercise from Jan. 18 – Feb. 7, designed to train soldiers on large-scale air assault operations and emerging military capabilities.

Operation Lethal Eagle is a 21-day field exercise involving more than 7,000 Soldiers, 22 rotary-wing aircraft, and the testing of over 20 emerging military technology systems. The exercise will also incorporate two U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft from the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 774 as a proof-of-concept in preparation for the division’s future fielding of the MV-75 tilt-rotor aircraft in 2028.

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, continues to lead the U.S. Army in large-scale air assault operations and the integration of future vertical lift and emerging technologies to remain ready for future combat operations.

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