New Wing at Davis-Monthan AFB
On 27 April 2023, Chief of Staff General Charles Q. Brown Jr. told Congress that the Special Operations “Power Projection Wing” planned for Davis-Monthan AFB (AZ), will be equipped with MC-130J Commando II, AC-130J Ghostrider, and light attack aircraft, most probably the AT-802U Sky Warden/Longsword.
The mix of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) aircraft will replace the A-10C Thunderbolt IIs that are currently operated by the 355th Wing.
In the FY24 budget request, the USAF gave a number to the Wing, the 492nd Power Projection Wing, but did not disclose what type of aircraft the unit would be equipped with.
The AT-802U Sky Warden/Longsword won the Armed Overwatch competition. Scramble Magazine first wrote on this programme in May 2021 and on 1 August 2022 the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) announced that it selected L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor Inc.’s AT-802U Sky Warden system for its Armed Overwatch Programme (AOP). It has been revealed that the USAF designation for the aircraft is OA-1K, but a name has not been mentioned yet.
Photo (just illustrative) by Jay Carter (via jetphotos.com)