After receiving the AT-802us initially to start training, AFSOC has now delivered OA-1K in the final composition of the mission.
The first L3ARRRIRIS/AIR TRARTOR OA-1K Dream Skyraider II AFSOC plane (Air Force Special Operations Command) officially joined the fleet at a ceremony April 3, 2025In Horlember Field, Florida. It is described as “the beginning of a new era in aircraft units”, and the delivery comes after AFSOC revealed the name that was chosen to fall into the rugged and reliable. Oa-1K At the Air Force Seminar on February 27.
The delivery ceremony also witnessed the attendance at the attendance at Lieutenant Bill Boyce, a 98-year-old retired pilot, the plane flew from June 1967 to July 1968 during the Vietnam War, and escaped the dropping of a mission. Skyraider II is derived from AT-802U, and has been developed in response to AFSOC’s Armed The program in 2022.
AFSOC previously receive AT-802u Arcraft aircraft in Hurlburt Field on June 28, 2024, in the formation of a representative wheel, to train crews on the armed Overwatch variable (OA-1K). This was followed to receive The first AT-802u at Will Rogers International Airport in Oklahoma City on July 29.
Additional aircraft of 75 units of the production line will go to the Will Rogers National Air Force Base, Oclahoma “in the coming months.” Al Qaeda hosts the FTU (official training unit) for OA-1K.
Plexed and effective units
The air tractor and L3HARRIS beat Bececraft at-6 Wolverine, Embraer A-29 Super TokanoThe Pzl’s M28B 1R Bryza for AFSOC is worth $ 3 billion. The Skyraider II plane was built in Olni, Texas, by air and equipped on the armed armed mission in Toulsa, Oklahoma, by L3HARRIS.
“Skyraider II is not just a new platform, but the standard solution to our needs of national security,” said Lieutenant General Michael Conli, AFSOC leader. “It will redefine the way we deal with the joint campaign and respond to crises and the advanced scene of modern war.”
The OA-1K will be completed at the beginning, then it was replaced by U-28a Draco, an ISR platform with one engine that relies on the Pilatus PC-12, which is run by the first special operations suite (SOW) at Hurlburt Field and SOW 27 in Cannon AFB, New Mexico. A-1 skyraiderWhich was served from 1946 to the early eighties, Skyraider II was armed into a variety of weapons to Earth and visual electrical systems to support Air Cas, an accuracy and ISR (intelligence, monitoring and reconnaissance).
In partnership with @AartractorinkWe have delivered the first OA-1K Skyraider II Affecopscmd. Skyraider II brings advanced airspace in close atmospheric support, and Precision Strike & Armed ISR for private operations employees. https://t.co/gqjxcaka4x pic.twitter.com/nig248lcvy
AT-802u is equipped with eight solids installed on the wing, capable of carrying 500 lb ammunition (227 kg), in addition to two midfield stations of 1000 pounds (454 kg), giving it a total load capacity of 8,000 lbs (3,629 kg). The internal solid points of externally installed rifles are improved, with restrictions ranging from 0.50 to 20 mm. Other features include the Prattini Pt6a-67F engine and self-seal fuel tanks.
“Skyraider II reflects L3Harris’s commitment to providing cost -effective and adaptable solutions that meet the advanced needs of the fighter,” said John Rambo, head of integrated task systems at L3HARRIS. “By taking advantage of our team’s innovation and expertise, we provide private operating employees with a multi -use capacity and ready for the task that supports operational requirements today and in the future.”
His words were answered by Jim Hersh, Air Tractor President: “Air Jarrar is pleased to be part of this program. We are ready to meet future needs and to ensure this plane engine with the US Air Force Special Operations Power expectations.”
Used in an upscale war
The service said: Revenge from the AT-802 platform, which has proven its usefulness, makes Skyraider II a “dynamic plane” that allows operators to control the effects of the required missions and create dilemmas for our opponents through a set of armed conflict.
“This plane embodies the essence of our leadership, it is graceful, it is adaptable, and it is always ready to make the dead.” “AFSOC exists to accomplish tasks that others cannot do. Skyraider II is a testimony on this permanent promise.”
The use of the new plane will be mainly associated with SOFs, capable of orbit on the target area, at 200 nm of the base, in support of operators for six hours with a load of 6000 pounds. This will allow continuous coverage of SOFs in low -density environments, without the need to use larger and costly air. War and irregular currency (fighting) is another field in which this plane exceeds, as these threats are still prevalent in the Middle East.
Skyraider in nature witty (Granded combat action)-formable, thanks to the possibility of taking off and short landing (STOL) and the difficulty of support that allows the center’s sectarian body with the non-embodied ground units they support. For example, armed Skyraider IIIS can work greatly with Paarescuemen (or “PJS”) and other SOF units that are transferred by AFSOC CV-22B Ospreys.
The distinctive feature is low operating costs, in only hundreds of dollars per hour. Sustainability is another major factor, as the main plane is supported by a fixed global sustainability network, which adds to translation and reliability.
Two optical electrical towers allow one pod under the left wing simultaneous use of different ISR sensors, and more can be used with a second pod installed on the right wing. Behind the cockpit, it hosts an additional systems gift, which includes a strong set of radio and datalinks devices that provide multiple means of visual line contacts (LOS) and out of sight (BLOS).
Specific needs
the Senate Armed Services Committee While He was met Army, Christopher Cavuli, President of the European US Command (EUCON) and the commander of the highest allies in Europe, and the general in the naval weapon Michael Langley, President of Africa (Africa), for the request for defense licensing for 2026.
During the hearing, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona Langley asked about the “near air support gap” in the field of African responsibility, amid an increase in activities by extremist organizations. “With our continued focus towards combat operations on a large scale in the endopakum and Europe, I am concerned that the modernization and improvement of our defense will go towards these theaters, but away from other issues that we cannot ignore [including] Kelly said that the real threat to terrorism and the operations of the gray region, especially in Africa.
Then Kelly Langley asked if OA-1K could meet an ISR-Strike for Africa. “Every combat leader needs more ISR to support our operations. I would like to take any additional ISR and any enhanced technologies that will add to the credibility and power of our forces.”