The AT-802U Sky Warden won the Armed Overwatch trial, and on 1 August 2022, SOCOM announced a US$3 billion contract to purchase 75 aircraft by 2029.[3]
Design and development
The AT-802U Sky Warden was developed from the Air Tractor AT-802, for the Special Operations Command'sArmed Overwatch trial. A version of the AT-802 has been used for years eradicating coca leaf crops (used in the production of illicit drugs) and as a result was already outfitted with lightweight composite ballistic armored engine compartment and cockpit, called a "bathtub." The windshield features flat ballistic glass panels. The cockpit is built of a steel tube frame design to act as a roll cage, and can support the entire weight of the aircraft.[4]
The aircraft is not designed to fit ejection seats. The fuel lines and fuel tank are self-sealing and feature emergency fuel jettison.[4] Restraints include a 5-point harness equipped with airbags. Essential flight controls are present in both the front and rear seats. The landing gear configuration differs from most modern aircraft in that it is a tail-wheel configuration, which is optimal for take-off and landing on austere and unimproved airstrips.[citation needed]
The AT-802U is designed for expedient deployment and can be disassembled within a day to fit inside a single C-17 cargo aircraft.[5] It can then be reassembled to mission-ready status within a single day.[citation needed]
On 1 August 2022, Air Tractor and L3Harris were awarded a US$3 billion contract for 75 aircraft. The contract included an upfront payment of US$170 million, with the rest being paid out as the fleet is delivered. The aircraft is built in two stages; the airframe is built by Air Tractor in Olney, Texas, and the armor and weapons systems are added by L3Harris in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[6] It is to replace the U-28A Draco, often used for anti-insurgency operations.[7]
The AT-802U was officially designated the OA-1K in late 2022.[8] The designation implies the aircraft is a version of the unrelated and long retired A-1 Skyraider, another tail dragger attack aircraft which was used by AFSOC in the past. However this makes the designation non-systematic. On 27 February 2025, Air Force Special Operations Command officials announced the aircraft will be called "Skyraider II" in U.S. Air Force service, after the Cold War-era A-1 Skyraider.[9]
On 15 December 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report urging the Department of Defense to slow down the program until SOCOM makes a better justification for so many planes. GAO suggested SOCOM needs a "substantially smaller" fleet of Sky Wardens, but did not recommend a number itself.[10]
Operational history
The two AT-802Us arrive at Hurlburt Field in June 2024.
On 28 June 2024, two AT-802Us (Air Tractor aircraft unmodified by L3Harris) were delivered to Florida's Hurlburt Field to train test pilots and initial cadre before the OA-1K arrives; training began the week of July 8.[11][12] On July 29, one of the aircraft was moved to Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City to train an initial cadre for the 17th Special Operations Squadron, the Formal Training Unit (FTU) for the OA-1K. The other was to follow later in the year.[13][14][15]
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