AT-802U Sky Warden / OA-1K. Photo courtesy Air Tractor.
The AT-802U Sky Warden, officially designated as the OA-1K in late 2022, is a cutting-edge light attack and armed reconnaissance aircraft developed by Air Tractor and L3Harris® Technologies for the United States Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM) Armed Overwatch program.
SOCOM’s Armed Overwatch program is designed to provide special operations forces with a versatile and sustainable aircraft system for a wide range of missions, including Close Air Support (CAS), precision strike, and Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR). This program aims to address the needs of irregular warfare operations in austere environments by deploying light attack aircraft that can operate from unimproved airstrips.
The OA-1K is the chosen platform for this initiative, offering a multi-role capability to replace and enhance the functions of existing aircraft such as the U-28A Draco and MC-12W Liberty. By streamlining the operational and logistical requirements, the Armed Overwatch program ensures that SOCOM can respond swiftly and effectively to emerging threats across diverse terrain.
Development and Design
The OA-1K is based on the Air Tractor AT-802, a rugged single-engine turboprop aircraft originally used for agricultural purposes. The AT-802U / OA-1K variant has been militarized and features several enhancements to meet the demands of modern warfare. The aircraft is equipped with lightweight composite ballistic armor for the cockpit and engine compartment, known as a “bathtub,” and a steel tube frame design to act as a roll cage. The landing gear configuration is a tail-wheel setup, optimal for take-off and landing on unimproved airstrips.
One of the standout features of the OA-1K is its ability to be disassembled and reassembled within a day, allowing for expedient deployment and transport via a single C-17 cargo aircraft. This capability ensures that the aircraft can be quickly deployed to remote locations and made mission-ready in a short amount of time.
Mission Capabilities
The OA-1K is designed to “collapse the stack” of aircraft needed to perform various missions, replacing the unarmed U-28A Draco and MC-12W Liberty aircraft. It adds strike capability for close air support and precision strike missions with a gunship-like punch. The aircraft can carry a variety of weapons, including 2.75-inch rockets with the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS), which turns these rockets into precision-guided munitions. The OA-1K has a payload capacity of 8,000 pounds and features 10 external hardpoints: eight wing hard points for 600-pound bombs and two centerline hard points for 1,000-pound bombs. The innermost wing station is optimized for armaments ranging from .50 caliber to 20mm. The aircraft can loiter on station for six hours with a 200 nautical mile combat radius.
Contract and Production
On August 1, 2022, SOCOM awarded a $3 billion contract to L3Harris and Air Tractor for the production of 75 OA-1K aircraft by 2029. The contract includes an upfront payment of $170 million, with the rest being paid out as the fleet is delivered. According to a report from September 2024, the first operational OA-1K aircraft is expected to be delivered to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) within the first quarter of 2025.
Future Prospects
The OA-1K is expected to replace the U-28A Draco in SOCOM’s inventory and provide U.S. special operations forces with a versatile and sustainable aircraft system for irregular warfare operations. The long-term goal of the Armed Overwatch program is to eliminate the need for multiple single-role specialized ISR and close air support aircraft, streamlining operations and reducing logistical requirements..
Specifications (AT-802U / OA-1K)
Data from manufacturer
General Characteristics
Length: 37.5 ft (11.4 m)
Wingspan: 59.25 ft (18.06 m)
Height: 13 ft (4.0 m)
Wing area: 401 sq ft (37.3 m2)
Empty weight: 7,836 lb (3,554 kg) no armor or weapons
Gross weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
Fuel capacity: wing tanks: 380 U.S. gallons (1,400 L; 320 imp gal) and fuselage tanks: 360 U.S. gallons (1,400 L; 300 imp gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F turboprop, 1,600 hp (1,200 kW)
Propellers: 5-bladed Hartzell Propeller Titanium Dome
Performance
Maximum speed: 213 kn (245 mph, 394 km/h) at 10,000 feet (3,000 m) with no weapons
Cruise speed: 180 kn (210 mph, 330 km/h) patrolling speed at 10,000 feet (3,000 m)
Stall speed: 91 kn (105 mph, 169 km/h) at max gross weight
Range: 1,303 nmi (1,499 mi, 2,413 km) full fuel at 8,000 feet (2,400 m)
Armament
Hardpoints: 10 (2 centerline and 8 wing)
Resources
United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM)
SOCOM.mil
Air Tractor AT-802
802U.com
L3Harris
L3Harris.com
*Text and imagery consist of general capabilities information that is not defined as controlled technical data under ITAR Part 120.10 or EAR Part 772.