Built for Tomorrow's Fight: The Aircraft Redefining Agility, Precision and Power

Published: 2025-05-07 10:53:13 ET LHX

Published on 05/07/2025 at 10:53

L3Harris has delivered multiple follow-on aircraft in quick succession to ensure special operations personnel can meet the needs of the National Defense Strategy and the joint force.

In the next fight, the joint force won't need runways, but an aircraft that can fly, take off and land anywhere, anytime, and bring a network of sensors, communications equipment and combat payloads. To accomplish this, U.S. Special Operations Command has partnered with L3Harris to turn the Sky Warden into the OA-1K Skyraider II.

Sky Warden a unique aircraft that can do it all across the spectrum of armed conflict from remote, contested zones. It can connect to any joint force network anywhere in the world-voice, video, datalink-in real time. And it does it with a smaller footprint, lower cost per flying hour and unmatched flexibility for U.S. and allied operators.

Since the Skyraider II delivery ceremony in April 2025, L3Harris has delivered multiple follow-on aircraft in quick succession to ensure special operations personnel can meet the needs of the National Defense Strategy and the joint force

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Adaptive Aircraft

Sky Warden's modular design makes it possible to rapidly integrate different sensors, communications equipment and combat payloads. The aircraft can be disassembled in under six hours and combat ready within hours allowing rapid transport for crisis response and other novel mission sets.

Ground personnel in remote locations can get the support they need at a fraction of the price and logistical footprint using a more cost-effective platform. Whereas jet aircraft are often required to leave the battle area for refueling, the Sky Warden provides continuous armed overwatch support for up to eight hours. The Sky Warden can operate independently or as part of an integrated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) strike network and has the command and control, power, connectivity and lethality.

International Partners

International alliances are foundational to the National Defense Strategy. Many partner nations recognize the growing need to strengthen their own defense capabilities. Sky Warden is an ideal platform for partner nations and allies looking for self-defense and rapid response capabilities in emerging hot spots or natural disasters in austere locations.

L3Harris can provide partner nations with an aircraft that was developed to address mission sets where many international partners are currently challenged-providing a cost-effective solution for ISR, strike and security operations.

Additionally, the Sky Warden is hosted on the AT-802 platform, which is sold worldwide with Air Tractor aircraft in over 30 countries. Many governments already fly the AT-802 for various missions, including firefighting and counternarcotics spraying operations.