The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has officially taken delivery of the first missionised OA-1K Skyraider II, marking a big step in America’s ongoing efforts to modernise its irregular warfare capabilities with a modular, low-cost aircraft platform.
Delivered on 3 April at Hurlburt Field, Florida, the Skyraider II is based on the rugged AT-802 airframe and has been adapted for roles including close air support, precision strike, and armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).
Its acceptance signals a growing emphasis within the US military on affordable, tailorable aircraft suited to permissive and semi-contested environments.
“Skyraider II represents not just a new platform, but a modular solution to our national security needs,” said AFSOC commander Lt Gen Michael Conley. “It will redefine how we approach joint campaigning, crisis response and the evolving landscape of modern warfare.”
The aircraft’s relatively low operating cost and minimal maintenance footprint compared to traditional fixed-wing strike assets is seen as a key advantage. AFSOC believes this will enable the Skyraider II to deploy rapidly from remote or improvised airfields — a valuable trait in future expeditionary scenarios.
The OA-1K has been developed by L3Harris Technologies in partnership with Air Tractor, and draws on the architecture of the OA-1 Sky Warden programme. It also revives a historic name: the “Skyraider” moniker references the A-1 Skyraider, a workhorse of the Vietnam War era.
Speaking on the programme’s wider significance, Jon Rambeau, President of Integrated Mission Systems at L3Harris, said: “The Skyraider II reflects our commitment to delivering cost-effective, adaptable solutions that meet the evolving needs of the warfighter.”
While primarily a US procurement effort, the platform’s relevance to allied operators — including those in the UK — lies in its potential as a model for lower-cost alternatives to fast jets for missions that don’t require fifth-generation capabilities. It also represents another example of how the US is exploring new approaches to survivability, endurance, and affordability in future conflicts.
Training for the aircraft will take place at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma, with more deliveries expected in the coming months.
It’d be really interesting to see just how far a company with unlimited budget could push WW2 style aircraft designs.
Using ultra modern materials and engine tech I’d think the main thing holding it back would be the pilots ability to handle the G forces.
I know the Red Bull air race planes can briefly do 13g but surely even with the best g-suits that can’t be sustained for more than a few seconds?
Could an ultra modernised Spitefire be useful for the battlefield now?
It is an interesting thought process.
A far spread Hi-Lo mix.
I do think UK has been guilty of going to Hi-Hi on the mix as opposed to sustaining some mass.
But the counter argument is that UK high end R&D R&D would have been killed off without this approach.
The main thing is doing this without turning it into a Gucci festival, a UK forces specialism, with a tiny number of units procured.
A modern build Mosquito…….👌
It wouldn’t kill off the UK high level R&D, the bigger issue is the UK doesn’t have a force structure that needs this kind of aircraft. 1st SFC alone has 7 Special Forces Groups (each roughly equivalent in size and role to the the British Army Special Operations Brigade). You then add in MARSOF, DELTA, Rangers, DEVGRU, Naval Special Warfare Groups, etc and you start to get an idea of just how big US SOCOM actually is. And even with a force that big, AFSOC (Air Force Special Ops Command) is only getting a squadron or two of these.
So for the comparatively much smaller UKSF and SOF forces, you’d only be procuring a tiny number of units anyway (we’d be talking maybe, at most, a flight of these?) at which point the question should be asked, what do these provide that an Attack Helicopter can’t provide an 80% solution for?
Unfamiliar w/ the specs of this ac, but finding it difficult to justify as a probable replacement of the A-10 Warthog. USAF projected to retire 56 A-10s to the Boneyard this FY. Funds necessary for modernization/ refurbishment could not possibly exceed rounding error in USAF’s budget. Dunno, sometimes compadres seem to aim for own appendages. 🤔😳🙄
Hi FUSAF.
It’s not going to be replacing A-10’s. This thing has been in concept/trials/limited use, back and forth for a while now, and the idea was a low, slow, ground attack aircraft to provide fires to SOCOM in permissible environments (eg Nigeria, where the Green Berets where working with the Government against VEO’s). Hence it being used by AFSOC.
I doubt it would ever seriously be used in support of conventional forces even in a counter insurgency role.
OK, may prove to be the cost-effective, niche sol’n to deliver CAS in a permission environment. Still gotta love Warthogs; heartening presence for friendlies, holy terror for the opposition.
Unless those friendlies are in CVRTs…
A squadron of Swordfish at ultra low level would cause a US Carrier Battle Group some problems!!
CIWS goes Brrrrr.
similar to the WW2 Westland Lysander ? although the american one is shouting special ops and aggressive
The article says this:
‘It also revives a historic name: the “Skyraider” moniker references the A-1 Skyraider, a workhorse of the Vietnam War era. Speaking on the programme’s wider significance, Jon Rambeau …’.
It just managed to get a Vietnam reference and a variation to the name Rambo in consecutive sentences!