From crop duster to war machine: The unlikely journey of US special forces' favored OA‑1K Sky Warden

The US Government Accountability Office (GAO) calls for special forces to slow down their OA-1K Sky Warden aircraft acquisition. American experts have the ambition to purchase 75 of these machines, much to the dismay of accountants who question the necessity for such a large quantity.

Interestingly, the OA-1K Sky Warden started as an agricultural aircraft, which, after modifications, was used to decimate coca crops in Latin America and for field fertilization.

Using the reliable agricultural machine for its robust construction and short take-off and landing distance, Air Tractor and L3Harris developed a specialized combat aircraft: a heavily armored close-support machine, essentially a modern version of World War II attack aircraft, akin to the renowned IL-2.

The Sky Warden boasts an impressive stature. Measuring 37.7 feet long with a wingspan of 59 feet, it initially weighs 3.8 tons. After fueling, armoring, and suspending weaponry, the machine's weight more than doubles, exceeding 7.7 tons.

Laden with 10 suspension points, the aircraft can carry an array of weapons, from guided missiles such as AGM-176 Griffin or AGM-114 Hellfire to bombs like GBU-12 Paveway, GBU-39, or GBU-53 Stormbreaker, and even unguided rockets.

While the OA-1K Sky Warden doesn't need to soar at high speeds due to the nature of its operations, it still has a maximum speed of 244 mph. Additionally, it boasts an impressively low stall speed, making it capable of staying airborne at a mere 56 mph.

The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) selected the OA-1K aircraft as part of the Armed Overwatch program. This program was designed to identify the best aircraft for close air support in special operations. One of the essential requirements was the aircraft's ability to operate from makeshift landing strips.

Considering cost-efficiency and the specific demands of asymmetric conflicts, where deploying large, expensive, and technologically advanced combat aircraft would be an overkill, finding the right war gear was crucial. Therefore, out of various suggested designs in 2021, SOCOM selected three proposals: the Polish PZL M28 Skytruck (in the Sierra Nevada Corp. MC-145B Wily Coyote variant), the Beechcraft AT-6E Wolverine, and the Air Tractor-L3Harris AT-802U Sky Warden. After careful consideration, AFSOC endorsed the latter.