Sky Warden/ Longsword for USAF
On 1 August 2022, 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).
After years of bickering and negotiations, an agreement has finally been reached to order multiple AT-802s for USSOCOM. Scramble Magazine earlier reported on this programme on 7 February 2020 and 20 May 2021. The Leidos Bronco II and the Cessna MC-208 had already fell out of the AOP competition.
USSOCOM's award of the Indefinite Quantity, Indefinite Delivery contract includes a cost ceiling of USD 3 billion. The AOP includes delivery of up to 75 manned, fixed wing aircraft, with an initial programme contract award of USD 170 million. In 2017, the AT-802L Longsword was one of only four aircraft that met rigorous USAF criteria required to participate in the Light Attack Experiment (OA-X) at Holloman AFB (NM).
The AT-802U (Utility) fleet of modern multi-mission aircraft will address USSOCOM’s need for a deployable, sustainable single-engine fixed-wing, crewed and affordable aircraft system. It will provide armed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), Strike Coordination And Reconnaissance (SCAR) and Close Air Support (CAS)/Forward Air Control (FAC) requirements for use in austere and permissive environments. The aircraft will be used in irregular warfare operations.
L3Harris expects to rapidly modify last summer’s AOP's prototype demonstrator into production configuration and provide for USAF weapon system testing in approximately six months. Production of new, fully-modified, AOP mission-configured aircraft will begin in 2023 at L3Harris’ Tulsa (OK) modification center, following initial production at Air Tractor’s Olney (TX) aircraft manufacturing facility.
Six new aircraft will be delivered under the low-rate initial production (LRIP) Lot 1. Although 75 aircraft do not seem much, it is expected that some four USAF squadrons - three operational squadrons and one training squadron -, with each operating between 15-22 aircraft, will be equipped with the AT-802. Also, some will be used for (Weapons) testing. No basing has been named yet. But, Florida seems to have the most favourable conditions. With Hurlburt Field, Tyndall AFB, Eglin AFB and Eglin Auxiliary airfields nearby there is a lot to choose from.
The most common names, Sky Warden and Longsword, have been circulating in the media for a long time. There is the possibility that the USAF will give a new name to the AT-802.
Photos by Christopher Ebdon and Quintin Smith (On Flickr)