The US Air Force recently revealed the name of its newest combat aircraft: the Skyraider II. This designation pays tribute to the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, a light-attack aircraft that served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The new Skyraider II, officially known as the OA-1K, is a turboprop aircraft designed for close air support and reconnaissance missions.
“I am excited about the Skyraider II,” says AFSOC commander Lieutenant General Michael Conley, in a report from FlightGlobal. “We are going to have the ability to shape that into something that the rest of the nation might not even know they need right now.”
Origins and Development
The OA-1K is based on the Air Tractor AT-802, a crop duster. L3Harris is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the aircraft. The company conducted test flights in Waco, Texas, as part of the certification process. A production line in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is assembling the aircraft. The Air Force expects to receive the first operational OA-1K at Hurlburt Field, Florida, in the coming weeks.
The Skyraider II program faced scrutiny in a 2023 Government Accountability Office (GAO) review. The initial requirement was for 75 aircraft, but that number has been reduced to 62. The Skyraider II will be operated by Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) pilots. It will support special operations forces in diverse locations.
“AFSOC has enduring global missions,” says Brigadier General Craig Prather, AFSOC’s director of strategic plans, programs and requirements. “While we don’t expect the Skyraider II to go mix it up with fifth- and sixth-generation fighters, it will provide value to our supported forces globally.”
The decision to use a turboprop aircraft for close air support has drawn criticism due to the threat of modern anti-air missiles. However, special operations leaders emphasize the need for a simple and rugged platform that can operate in lower-threat environments.
“Providing scalable and precision effects is where the Skyraider II will come in,” says Prather. He envisions the aircraft being used in a variety of locations, from the US-Mexico border to Africa.
Capabilities and Future Potential
The Skyraider II is equipped with various weapons systems, including precision air-to-ground missiles, laser-guided rockets, Joint Direct Attack Munition guided bombs, and onboard electro-optical/infrared sensors. L3Harris is exploring the possibility of adding signals intelligence collection sensors and electronic warfare systems.
The aircraft can be partially disassembled for transport by cargo aircraft, enabling rapid deployment. L3Harris has also reported international interest in the Skyraider II, with export approval granted for several countries.
The introduction of the Skyraider II comes as the Air Force retires the A-10 Thunderbolt II, a dedicated close air support aircraft. The Skyraider II is expected to fill the capability gap left by the A-10, offering a versatile platform for a range of missions. L3Harris’s 2022 contract with SOCOM for the Armed Overwatch program, under which the Skyraider II was developed, is worth up to $3 billion.
