Armed Overwatch

Last updated
Armed Overwatch program
AT-6B Wolverine - RIAT 2016 (30000820772).jpg
Air-to-air with Afghan Air Force Embraer A-29 Super Tucano.jpg
PZL-Mielec M-28B-1R Bryza (7964781290).jpg
Paris Air Show 2017 Air tractor Longsword left front.jpg
Clockwise, from top left: The AT-6B Wolverine, A-29 Super Tucano, AT-802L Longsword, and M28B 1R Bryza (variant of C-145A).
Outcome AT-802U Sky Warden selected

The Armed Overwatch program is an effort launched by U.S. Special Operations Command to purchase roughly 75 crewed, fixed-wing aircraft to perform close air support, precision strike, and ISR missions. [1] The Air Tractor-L3Harris AT-802U Sky Warden system was selected to deliver this capability. [2]

Contents

SOCOM plans to use the system as a replacement for the U-28A Draco aircraft for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance flights in remote areas. The U-28As will reach the end of their service life soon, so the Armed Overwatch program is being conducted rapidly, with the aim of selecting a design, retraining crews, and fielding the new aircraft without causing "a decrease in capacity on the battlefield." [3]

Armed Overwatch and its predecessor programs are distinct from the Light Air Support program, a U.S. Air Force competition to select a turboprop attack aircraft for use by the Afghan Air Force, not by U.S. forces. [4]

History

Early programs

Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom demonstrated that U.S. special operators had an urgent need for surveillance aircraft that could fly out of more austere airfields than those required for modern combat aircraft. To meet this need, in 2006, Air Force Special Operations Command purchased a batch of 28 commercial Pilatus PC-12 turboprop aircraft, which were modified, loaded with sensor and communication equipment, and designated U-28A. [5] From 2009 to 2020, the U.S. Air Force toyed with the idea of purchasing a small fleet of Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance aircraft to provide air support to ground forces during COIN operations. In addition to completing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, the envisioned aircraft would be able to complete air strikes for special operators and conventional forces at a fraction of the cost of multirole fighters (such as the F-15E and F-16), jet-powered attack aircraft (such as the A-10), or stealth fighters (such as the F-22 and F-35). In December 2011, the Air Force selected the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano over Beechcraft's AT-6B Wolverine. [6] Congressional opposition, spearheaded by allies of the Kansas-based Beechcraft, repeatedly blocked initial purchasing attempts, and despite several encouraging experiments, the program failed to regain its momentum. [7] The Air Force ultimately canceled the program in early 2020. [8] [9] U.S. Special Operations Command, which had long lobbied for the Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance program, launched the Armed Overwatch initiative as a result. [10] [11]

AFSOC Armed Overwatch program

Following the demise of the Air Force's Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance program, AFSOC decided to launch their own program to focus on obtaining and fielding a multi-mission aircraft to fill SOCOM's needs in uncontested airspace. Though the FY 2020 NDAA empowered SOCOM to take control of the existing Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance program from the Air Force, Armed Overwatch is a completely independent effort. [12] [1] Unlike the Air Force's previous light attack efforts, which primarily sought a turboprop attack aircraft to conduct close air support missions for conventional ground forces, the Armed Overwatch program is focused on aircraft that can provide small special operations teams with the ISR and communication support currently provided by the U-28A Draco, as well as close air support. [13]

In early March 2020, over 50 companies attended an industry day event to meet with SOCOM officials. Though SOCOM will not disclose which companies are submitting aircraft for the program, four (Sierra Nevada Corp., Textron, Air Tractor, and Leidos) have indicated that they are entering designs for consideration. [14]

While the Pentagon's FY 2021 budget request sought $106 million to purchase an initial batch of 5 aircraft, COVID-related delays, as well as increased congressional scrutiny, have delayed the program. [9] [15] As of February 2021, AFSOC plans on conducting flying demonstrations in the summer of 2021, with procurement to begin in FY 2022. [16]

On April 6, SOCOM released an "Armed Overwatch Program Other Transactional Authority (OTA) Agreement for a Prototype Project," detailing SOCOM's three-phase plan for evaluating entrants. Phase 1 requires interested vendors to submit a Notice of Intent and a "white paper" outlining their proposal. Phase 2 will consist of an "Offeror Deep Dive," during which a government evaluation team will visit each applicant contractor's facility and conduct a two-day, one-on-one session with company representatives. This information will be used for evaluating each program's likely lifetime cost, as well as each applicant's ability to produce aircraft meeting SOCOM requirements in a timely manner. Following Phase 1 and Phase 2, up to four favorably-evaluated vendors will be awarded a contract, granting the vendor up to $4,000,000 to participate in Phase 3 demonstrations. Phase 3 requires each applicant to provide flight demonstrations of their aircraft and detail their plan for delivering "up to 75 aircraft over a 5-7 year period." [17] The Phase 3 flight demonstrations are currently scheduled for November 2020. SOCOM anticipates that the entire evaluation process will be complete "on or about April 1, 2021." [18]

A draft of the 2021 NDAA approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee describes the Armed Overwatch project as a "poorly performing" program and prohibits the purchase of any aircraft as a part of the effort, while simultaneously blocking SOCOM from retiring the U-28A Draco or any other crewed ISR aircraft. [19] Similarly, the House Armed Services Committee proposed cutting funding for the effort by $80,000,000. [20] The House Committee on Appropriations, in its FY 2021 appropriations bill, proposed allocating an unspecified amount of funding for "a new start for SOCOM's Armed Overwatch Program." [15]

In February 2021, AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. James Slife announced that, despite delays due to COVID and an increased amount of scrutiny from Congress, AFSOC would proceed with a flying demonstration of Armed Overwatch competitors in the summer of 2021. He indicated he was "cautiously optimistic" that AFSOC would collect the data they needed from the experiment, and be able to provide Congressional committees with information they needed to secure funding for procurement as early as FY 2022. [16]

The Armed Overwatch program is the seventh effort by the US military to evaluate or purchase commercial, off-the-shelf turboprop aircraft for reconnaissance and attack duties over the past fourteen years: it follows the US Navy's Imminent Fury combat test (2008), [21] the US Air Force's Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance program (LAAR, 2009–2012), [22] the Air National Guard's unnamed light attack experiments (2010), [23] the US Navy's Combat Dragon II combat test (2015), [24] US SOCOM's Light Attack Support for Special Operations program (LASSO, 2017), [25] and the US Air Force's Light Attack Experiment (OA-X, 2017–2020). [9]

Program of record

In April 2022, it was reported that Armed Overwatch had become an official Program of Record, as the FY2022 defense budget included $170,000,000 for the purchase of six aircraft. [26] In his April 27 testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee, Lt. Gen. Slife stated that SOCOM would decide on a source for these aircraft within "weeks", saying "this summer I expect to see a contract award." [27] [28] These initial aircraft, along with an additional nine requested as part of the FY2023 defense budget, will be part of a Low-Rate Initial Production batch, to be used mostly for operational testing and evaluation. [29] SOCOM anticipates that these this will lead to a Full Rate Production contract award in Q4 of FY2024. [30]

Competitors

On May 14, 2021, SOCOM announced that five companies had been awarded contracts, totaling $19,200,000, to produce prototype aircraft for evaluation. [31] By November of that year, SOCOM had narrowed its focus to just three designs. [32]

Beechcraft AT-6E Wolverine

Based on Beechcraft's successful T-6 Texan II trainer aircraft, the AT-6 includes additional sensors, communications gear, and weapons hardpoints. The AT-6 was one of two finalists of the Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance program. [33] [34] Though the only US AT-6 sales thus far have been for evaluation by the U.S. Air Force, hundreds of T-6A and T-6B trainers are in service with the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, respectively. [35] [36]

Sierra Nevada Corp. MC-145B Wily Coyote

Essentially an upgraded C-145A Combat Coyote, itself a version of the Polish-manufactured PZL M28 Skytruck. While the C-145A is a STOL-capable light cargo aircraft operated in small numbers by AFSOC, the MC-145B adds sensors, communication equipment, and weapons, allowing it to complete ISR and CAS missions. [37] [31]

Air Tractor-L3Harris AT-802U Sky Warden

An armed variant of the successful AT-802 cropduster. 24 armed AT-802s have been delivered to the UAE, some of which have been loaned to the Yemeni Air Force and used in airstrikes. [38] [39]

Aircraft no longer under consideration

Leidos/Paramount USA/Vertex Aerospace Bronco II

Originally designed by Paramount Group in South Africa as the AHRLAC, the Bronco II is a new aircraft designed from the outset for close air support, rather than being modified from an existing design, like its competitors. Despite the name "Bronco II," the aircraft is a new design, not a descendant of its namesake, the OV-10 Bronco. The Bronco II has no known operators. [40] [41] [42]

Sierra Nevada Corp./Embraer A-29

A U.S.-manufactured, modified version of the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano. The A-29 was one of two finalists of the Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance program, and the winner of a U.S. contract to provide aircraft and training for the Afghan Air Force. The Nigerian Air Force has purchased 12 A-29s as well. [43] [44]

While Sierra Nevada Corp. initially indicated they would enter the A-29 for the Armed Overwatch program, the A-29 was not awarded a contract for a prototype. Sierra Nevada Corp. appears to have dropped their efforts to market the aircraft to AFSOC, focusing instead on their MC-145B.

MAG Aerospace MC-208 Guardian

Based on the Cessna 208 Caravan, the MC-208 Guardian is a multi-role variant fitted with additional surveillance sensors, avionics, weapon hardpoints, and weapon systems. The MC-208 Caravan can be armed with up to eight Hellfire missiles and as many as 28 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) laser-guided rockets for smaller targets. [45] [46]

Selection

The selection of the Air Tractor/L3Harris AT-802U Sky Warden system was announced in August 2022. [2] [47]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed AC-130</span> Gunship aircraft series by Lockheed

The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft. It carries a wide array of ground-attack weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems. Unlike other modern military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. Since its large profile and low operating altitudes around 7,000 feet make it an easy target, its close air support missions are usually flown at night.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco</span> Observation and light attack aircraft

The North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco is an American twin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft. It was developed in the 1960s as a special aircraft for counter-insurgency (COIN) combat, and one of its primary missions was as a forward air control (FAC) aircraft. It can carry up to 3,200 lb (1,450 kg) of external munitions and internal loads such as paratroopers or stretchers, and can loiter for three or more hours.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beechcraft T-6 Texan II</span> Single-engine, low-wing tandem-seat turboprop military training aircraft

The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is a single-engine turboprop aircraft built by Textron Aviation. A trainer aircraft based on the Pilatus PC-9, the T-6 replaced the United States Air Force's Cessna T-37B Tweet and the United States Navy's T-34C Turbo Mentor during the 2010s.

United States special operations forces (SOF) are the active and reserve component forces of the United States Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force within the US military, as designated by the Secretary of Defense and specifically organized, trained, and equipped to conduct and support special operations. All active and reserve special operations forces are assigned to the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Force Special Operations Command</span> Air Force component of the U.S. Special Operations Command

Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), headquartered at Hurlburt Field, Florida, is the special operations component of the United States Air Force. An Air Force major command (MAJCOM), AFSOC is also the U.S. Air Force component command to United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM), a unified combatant command located at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida. AFSOC provides all Air Force Special Operations Forces (SOF) for worldwide deployment and assignment to regional unified combatant commands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilatus PC-12</span> Swiss executive and utility transport aircraft

The Pilatus PC-12 is a pressurized, single-engined, turboprop aircraft manufactured by Pilatus Aircraft of Stans, Switzerland since 1991. It was designed as a high-performance utility aircraft that incorporates a large aft cargo door in addition to the main passenger door. Due to its efficient, high-utility design, the PC-12 is used by a large variety of operators. The main use for the aircraft is corporate transportation, but it is also used by fractional and small regional airlines, air-ambulance operators, and many government agencies, such as police departments and armed forces. The PC-12 is successful with 2,000 deliveries made as of May 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beechcraft T-34 Mentor</span> American plane used for military training

The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is an American propeller-driven, single-engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. The earlier versions of the T-34, dating from around the late 1940s to the 1950s, were piston-engined. These were eventually succeeded by the upgraded T-34C Turbo-Mentor, powered by a turboprop engine. The T-34 remains in service more than seven decades after it was first designed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PZL M28 Skytruck</span> Utility aircraft

The PZL M28 Skytruck is a family of Polish light utility aircraft with STOL capability produced by PZL Mielec for military and civilian use. They are mainly used in transport, patrol and maritime reconnaissance roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">353rd Special Operations Wing</span> US Air Force unit

The 353rd Special Operations Wing is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Special Operations Command, stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1st Special Operations Wing</span> U.S. Air Force special operations unit

The 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida is one of three United States Air Force active duty Special Operations wings and falls under the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beechcraft Super King Air</span> Light twin-turboprop transport aircraft family

The Beechcraft Super King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by Beechcraft. The Model 200 and Model 300 series were originally marketed as the "Super King Air" family; the "Super" designation was dropped in 1996. They form the King Air line together with the King Air Model 90 and 100 series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Tractor AT-802</span> Agricultural and fire-fighting aircraft

The Air Tractor AT-802 is an American agricultural aircraft that may also be adapted into fire-fighting or armed versions. It first flew in the United States in October 1990 and is manufactured by Air Tractor. The AT-802 carries a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. In the U.S., it is considered a Type III SEAT, or Single Engine Air Tanker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">18th Special Operations Test and Evaluation Squadron</span> Military unit

The 18th Special Operations Test and Evaluation Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force, based at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The squadron performs field testing for Air Force Special Operations Command, evaluating aircraft, equipment, and tactics in realistic battlespace environments to provide decision-makers with accurate, timely, and complete assessments of mission capability. From concept development to system fielding, the unit's mission improves the survivability and combat capability of special operations forces worldwide.

Sierra Nevada Corporation is an American aerospace, defense, electronics, engineering and manufacturing corporation that specializes in aircraft modification, integration and other space technologies. The corporation contracts with the United States Armed Forces, NASA, and private spaceflight companies. The corporation is headquartered in Sparks, Nevada, and has 36 locations in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and Turkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance</span> 2009–2020 US Air Force aircraft acquisition program

The Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR) or Light Air Support (LAS) program was a United States Air Force program for a new light counter-insurgency, ground attack and reconnaissance aircraft. The aircraft should be capable of finding, tracking, and attacking targets either on its own or in support of ground forces. The program formally began in July 2009 with a request for information. No request for proposal has yet been issued. Approximately 100 aircraft were expected to be ordered, but USAF has reduced the number of aircraft sought to 15 aircraft. The 15 aircraft program was focused at training pilots, not a combat mission. This program has also been called the OA-X program or the AT-X program, although the reduced scope of the LAAR program has forced the USAF to push an "OA-X" program indefinitely into the future. In late 2019, the program received renewed attention by lawmakers, who expressed their frustrations with the program's pace. A group of legislators introduced amendments to the House and Senate versions of the FY 2020 National Defense Authorization Act that would transfer control of the program to the commander of U.S. Special Operations Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker</span> Type of aircraft

The Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker is an American armed gunship, counter-insurgency, utility transport version of the Pilatus PC-6 Porter for the United States Air Force. A total of 35 were built under license in the United States by Fairchild Industries, for use during the Vietnam War in the early 1970s. All aircraft were later sold to the Royal Thai Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AHRLAC Holdings Ahrlac</span> Proposed COIN/light reconnaissance aircraft, South Africa

The MWARI Is a South African light reconnaissance and counter-insurgency aircraft developed by Paramount Aerospace Industries, which started out as a joint venture between the Paramount Group and Aerosud. It is designed to perform as an inexpensive, more versatile substitute for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and modern light attack aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">306th Intelligence Squadron</span> U.S. air force intelligence unit

The United States Air Force's 306th Intelligence Squadron is an intelligence unit located at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma. It oversees advanced technical training and initial qualification of airborne intelligence operators preparing to support Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L3Harris OA-1K Sky Warden</span> American light attack aircraft

The Air Tractor-L3Harris OA-1K Sky Warden is an American fixed-wing, single-engine Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance aircraft built by Air Tractor and L3Harris for the Armed Overwatch program of the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). It was developed from the Air Tractor AT-802, an American aircraft often used for agricultural purposes.

References

  1. 1 2 https://beta.sam.gov/opp/3de1f580d51b44acaaa27156f464bb1a/view [ dead link ]
  2. 1 2 "L3Harris and Air Tractor win Armed Overwatch competition for special ops air support".
  3. ↑ "SOCOM's Armed Overwatch Expected to Replace the AFSOC U-28 Fleet". 12 February 2020.
  4. ↑ "Light Air Support (LAS)".
  5. ↑ "U-28A Draco".
  6. ↑ "B-406170, Hawker Beechcraft Defense Company, LLC, December 22, 2011". Archived from the original on 2020-07-07. Retrieved 2020-02-11.
  7. ↑ "Kansas congressmen want work stopped on USAF contract Beechcraft lost - Wichita Business Journal". Archived from the original on 2015-01-09.
  8. ↑ "Light Attack Competition: Air Force, McCain Tout Acquisition Experiment". 10 August 2017.
  9. 1 2 3 "Sorry, Sierra Nevada Corp. And Textron: The US Air Force isn't buying light attack planes". 10 February 2020.
  10. ↑ "US special ops command at odds with Air Force over need for light-attack aircraft". 17 May 2019.
  11. ↑ "Here Are the Pentagon's "Tough Choice" Cuts to Airpower as Part of Its 2021 Budget". 10 February 2020.
  12. ↑ "Text - H.R.2500 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress". Congress.gov. 11 August 2020. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  13. ↑ "Armed overwatch: A critical special operations forces requirement". 23 August 2020.
  14. ↑ "Armed Overwatch Aircraft on SOCOM's Shopping List".
  15. 1 2 "Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2021 Defense Funding Bill". 7 July 2020.
  16. 1 2 "Special ops still bullish on new armed overwatch plane". 16 February 2021.
  17. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2020-05-25. Retrieved 2020-05-18.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ↑ "US special forces Armed Overwatch light-attack demo scheduled for November".
  19. ↑ "Senate Looks to Block Many of the Pentagon's "Tough Choices" Airpower Cuts in Next Budget". 11 June 2020.
  20. ↑ "Congress Questions Need for New Armed Overwatch Planes for SOCOM". July 2020.
  21. ↑ "Imminent Fury / Combat Dragon II".
  22. ↑ "The U.S. Air Force Almost Sent 'Starter' Attack Planes to Europe". 16 July 2018.
  23. ↑ "AT-6C light attack aircraft".
  24. ↑ "Combat Dragon II Demonstrates OV-10G+ Bronco Capabilities".
  25. ↑ "Light Attack Support for U.S. Special Operations Command - Federal Business Opportunities: Opportunities". Archived from the original on 2017-08-17. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  26. ↑ "Armed Overwatch Program Nears Source Selection".
  27. ↑ "HEARING TO RECEIVE TESTIMONY ON UNITED STATES SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND'S EFFORTS TO SUSTAIN THE READINESS OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES AND TRANSFORM THE FORCE FOR FUTURE SECURITY CHALLENGES" (PDF).
  28. ↑ "Armed Overwatch Contract Coming This Summer, AFSOC Boss Says". 28 April 2022.
  29. ↑ "SOCOM Budget Docs Set Armed Overwatch Contract Award In July".
  30. ↑ "United States Department of Defense Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request" (PDF).
  31. 1 2 Armed Overwatch Program
  32. ↑ "Air Force OA-X Light Attack Aircraft/SOCOM Armed Overwatch Program" (PDF).
  33. ↑ "AT-6 Wolverine".
  34. ↑ "AT–6 Wolverine: On the prowl". 4 January 2020.
  35. ↑ "T-6A Texan II".
  36. ↑ "The US Navy -- Fact File: T-6B Texan II Turboprop Trainer". Archived from the original on 2020-06-04. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  37. ↑ "C-145A Combat Coyote".
  38. ↑ "M3 Capabilities". Archived from the original on 2020-06-04. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  39. ↑ "Janes | Latest defence and security news". Archived from the original on 2016-10-18.
  40. ↑ "AHRLAC: The first multi-platform military aircraft designed and built in Africa". 15 August 2014.
  41. ↑ "Bronco II light attack aircraft returns with Leidos bid for US Special Ops Armed Overwatch".
  42. ↑ "Leidos, Paramount USA, and Vertex Aerospace team up to pursue U.S. Special Operations Command Armed Overwatch prototype program".
  43. ↑ "A-29 for America | Super Tucano | OA-X". Builtforthemission.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  44. ↑ "Sierra Nevada Corporation Awarded Contract to Deliver 12 A-29s for the Nigerian Air Force".
  45. ↑ "U.S. Fast-Tracks New "Armed Overwatch" Attack Plane". Warrior Maven: Center for Military Modernization.
  46. ↑ "MC-208 Guardian from MAG Aerospace". 28 April 2021.
  47. ↑ "Sky Warden/ Longsword for USAF". 8 August 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.