The United States military has long relied on close air support (CAS) to provide critical firepower in ground operations. This capability has proven invaluable in various conflicts, including World War II and more recent engagements in Korea and Vietnam. CAS enables service personnel to coordinate with aviators to neutralize enemy threats, providing a significant psychological advantage.
The value of CAS is particularly evident when supporting special operations teams, which often operate in austere environments with limited resources. These teams rely on external support to enable their missions and ensure success.
The US Air Force is currently testing its new armed overwatch and CAS Aircraft, the OA-1K Skyraider II, manufactured by Air Tractor. The aircraft is designed to provide much-needed support to America's special operations forces in challenging environments.
The Skyraider II represents the USAF's newest aircraft, named after the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, which served effectively during the Korean and Vietnam Wars as a CAS aircraft. The commercial variant of the aircraft is the Air Tractor AT-802, which undergoes airframe production before being shipped to L3Harris Technologies' facility for military outfitting.
The AT-802U won the Armed Overwatch competition within five aircraft, securing a $3 billion contract with L3Harris in August 2022. However, the planned fleet of 75 aircraft has been reduced to 53 units. The first missionized Skyraider II was accepted by USAF Special Operations Command on April 3, 2025.
Developmental testing of the Skyraider II is currently underway with the USAF's 96th Test Wing in coordination with SOCOM. This evaluation aims to assess the aircraft's performance and capabilities.
The Skyraider II's developmental testing is a crucial step towards its deployment and integration into US special operations forces. The aircraft's success will depend on its ability to provide reliable and effective support in challenging environments.
As the US Air Force continues to develop and refine its close air support capabilities, the Skyraider II represents an important milestone in this effort. Its introduction marks a significant upgrade in the USAF's capacity to support special operations forces.
The Skyraider II represents a significant upgrade in the US Air Force's close air support capabilities for special operations forces.
