L3Harris Technologies and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly pursue Israel’s Light-Attack Aircraft program using L3Harris’ Sky Warden platform, the company stated.
The partnership will integrate L3Harris’ low-cost, high-endurance Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft with IAI’s mission systems expertise. Under the agreement, the two companies will develop a variant known as Blue Sky Warden, which will feature an IAI open-architecture mission computer, Israeli-specific software, and mission equipment tailored to national requirements.
IAI will lead integration, flight testing, and airworthiness campaigns in collaboration with Israel’s Ministry of Defence and Air Force.
“By combining IAI’s cutting-edge systems and expertise in mission systems integration with L3Harris’ Sky Warden platform, we are delivering a tailored solution that meets the evolving needs of the Ministry of Defense and Israeli Air Force,” said Boaz Levy, President and CEO of IAI.
Jon Rambeau, President of L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems, added that the collaboration allows the company to deliver a variant specifically suited to Israel’s operational and industrial goals. “The Sky Warden light-attack aircraft delivers the best-in-class endurance, payload and survivability needed for airborne ISR and other missions,” he said.
Sky Warden is the commercial version of the OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft, which L3Harris is currently producing for U.S. Special Operations Command.
Who is going to say it….?
Say what ?
I’m going to do my usual and point out that this is actually a U.S. company based company and the skywarden is a U.S. IP aircraft built in the U.S.. Jon Rambeau is president of the the integrated missions systems division is a division L3harris INC.. when they signed the document they did it with a U.S. and Israeli flag… not a Union Jack in sight or anyone from L3harris technologies LTD ( wholly owned by L3harris INC ).. this a a pure U.S. Israel collaboration that may be aiming to sell stuff to the Uk and even do some work in the UK.
I’ll leave it a bit longer.
😂😂😂
Nobody is biting. Posters come out with the same idea everytime a Tucano looking plane is shown.
I must have scared them off….🤪
I’ll raise you one better. Beechcraft T-6 Texan II Wolverine. There, I said it.
I see your Wolverine and raise you with the BAe small agile battlefield aircraft (SABA).
TBH, when you said ‘Who is going to say it….?’ I thought you were looking for ‘Send it to Ukraine’ haha
Ok. Often posters suggest buying planes like this to add mass and do the COIN stuff instead of fast air. Problem with that is they’re not much use for anything else…
though I see the Ukrainians are using old types like this to take down Drones with shotguns. In their case, use anything and everything.
Bit old school, looks like a Boulton Paul Defiant, even got a mock turret on the back. What role does this thing play and do we need to organise a Committee to work it out.
Well observed, I see what you mean re Defiant.
Well Deviant’s could have been an early version of the AC-47/119/130 etc. Just slow circle your target and let those turreted 303s rip. Without fighting gravity that is a fair amount of damage they could cause to personnel and light armour vehicles. I think we should get an initial batch of 32 with a contract for 32 more with added BrimStone & ASRAAM options. I’m sure Daniele will agree ? 🙂