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Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Can The OA-1K Skryraider II Actually Be Useful In A Pacific Fight?
Questions about the future of the U.S. Air Force's new OA-1K Skyraider II continue to swirl amid an ongoing shift toward preparing for potential peer conflicts and away from counter-insurgency and other low-intensity operations for which the special operations light attack aircraft was originally envisioned. Whether or not the program could be axed as part of a Pentagon-wide realignment of priorities under President Donald Trump is now also a topic of great interest. A high-ranking Air Force official recently talked at length about the OA-1K, including what roles it could play in a future high-end fight in the Pacific, with TWZ's Howard Altman, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss planning issues. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) took delivery of the first Skyraider II in April and expects to eventually receive 75 of the aircraft in total. The two-seat, single-engine turboprop's official nickname, which is a callback to the famed A-1 Skyraider that U.S. forces flew during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, was announced in February. 'The way that the OA-1K will look on day one is not how probably the OA-1K will look on day 1,000,' the Air Force official said. 'As we field it, it will continue to iterate based on the requirements that our supported forces articulate to us. We're intimately involved with all of those forces, even as we speak, on shaping the initial and then also the growing requirements that I'm sure that we will find for that platform going forward.' The OA-1K 'was designed to be very flexible. A big element of the platform is, again, this notion of modularity, [and] open systems architecture,' they continued. 'What that does for us is, on a given mission, you might put certain types of capabilities [on the aircraft] – those could be ISR [intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance] capabilities, … strike capabilities – you may have more of one than the other, depending on the day or the mission requirement of the supported force. But then the next day, that may change, and you can rapidly swap out what the capabilities are of the platform on a given mission.' The original core vision for the OA-1K was an aircraft capable of performing close air support, armed overwatch, and ISR missions, primarily in support of special operations forces, and while operating in permissive airspace. SOCOM's Armed Overwatch program, which resulted in the Skyraider II, kicked off in 2020, but leveraged many years of other abortive light attack aircraft programs and related test and evaluation efforts that had been heavily driven by the demands of the Global War on Terror (GWOT) era. Another key goal for the Armed Overwatch program was to help free up tactical combat jets, bombers, and other aircraft that had been employed in these roles in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq for more demanding and/or higher-priority missions, as well as reduce costly wear and tear on those platforms from constant and of short-endurance sorties. A light attack aircraft like the OA-1K would also have the benefit of being able to be pushed forward with a minimal logistics footprint to far-flung locations, even ones with next to no infrastructure. This, in turn, would put them closer to operating areas, reducing travel time and increasing on-station availability, all without the need for already heavily in-demand tanker support. However, the SOCOM selected the OA-1K as the winner of the Armed Overwatch competition in 2022, by which time the U.S. military had withdrawn from Afghanistan and the larger pivot to preparing for high-end operations, with a particular eye toward the Pacific, was in full swing. U.S. forces expect to face increasingly far more capable and longer-ranged air defenses in any large-scale conflict, especially in the region against China. The Air Force has explicitly warned about the potential threat of anti-air missiles able to reach targets up to 1,000 miles away emerging in the coming decades. This, in turn, has already called into question the relevance of the Skyraider II, as well as other special operations aircraft more tailored toward lower-end contingencies. So 'how could we support them [friendly forces] if it's in the Pacific or anywhere else? The OA-1K certainly has some roles and missions that can [provide] support there. And then in a large-scale combat operation, we are looking at, in partnership with other components of SOCOM [U.S. Special Operations Command], what are some of the things that it could do,' they added. 'Can it employ air-launched effects, at range, at standoff, in a flexible way that would provide value?' 'Launched effect' is a catch-all that the U.S. military uses to refer broadly to uncrewed aerial systems that can be launched from air, ground, and maritime platforms, and be configured as one-way attackers or to perform other non-kinetic missions, including electronic warfare, ISR, and signal relay. The term reflects increasingly blurry lines between multiple categories of aerial systems, especially traditional cruise missiles and long-range kamikaze drones. The Air Force official that TWZ spoke to did not elaborate on what kinds of 'launched effects' the OA-1K might carry in the future, but there is a growing array of relevant designs already in various stages of development within the U.S. military, as well as by private industry. SOCOM also has a Small Cruise Missile (SCM) program, primarily intended to provide new standoff strike capability for the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship, but that could be applicable to other platforms like the Skyraider II. The AC-130J is another AFSOC platform facing questions about its relevance in future high-end fights. In 2023, L3Harris, the prime contractor for the Skyraider II, also said it had modeled potential loadouts for the aircraft that included AGM-84 Harpoons and AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Ranges (JASSM-ER), according to National Defense Magazine. The AGM-84 and AGM-158B are traditional air-launched anti-ship and land-attack cruise missiles, respectively. L3Harris had also done that modeling work independently of its contracts with SOCOM. The aforementioned SCM program and others like it within the U.S. military are also heavily focused on offering lower-cost alternatives to munitions like the Harpoon and JASSM-ER. L3Harris has put forward GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) and GBU-53/B StormBreakers, also known as Small Diameter Bomb IIs (SDB II), as potential future armament options for the OA-1K. The GBU-39/B and GBU-53/B both offer a degree of standoff capability, and the ability to engage static and moving targets over dozens of miles. Otherwise, the prospective loadouts that have been put forward for the OA-1K to date align with the original lower-intensity mission focus and center on a mix of non-standoff precision munitions. These include AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) laser-guided 70mm rockets, and 500-pound GBU-12 laser-guided bombs. Pods to allow the Skyraider II to launch stores from Common Launch Tubes (CLT), which could include precision-guided missiles and bombs, as well as air-launched drones, have been put forward, as well. The OA-1K will also be able to carry podded sensor systems. For the Skyraider II, launched effects with standoff range could open up additional possibilities when it comes to operational employment of the aircraft. 'The next point that I would make there is that's where we start to get into things like Adaptive Airborne Enterprise. We get into enhanced precision effects,' the Air Force official we talked to said in response to a question regarding the future of the AC-130J that they also said was relevant to the OA-1K. 'So this is where we start talking about our platforms. And we are putting capabilities on them that now make them more flexible and enable them to provide support to the joint force and SOF [special operations forces] … in a number of environments.' Adaptive Airborne Enterprise (A2E) is an overarching term for concepts of operations that AFSOC has been refining for some years now that focus on increasing deployability by reducing personnel and logistics footprints, as well as the collaborative employment of capabilities. A2E work so far has focused heavily on the MQ-9 Reaper drone, but the Air Force has made clear in the past that the concept extends to other aerial platforms, crewed and uncrewed, as well as friendly ground and maritime forces. Another key element of A2E has been exploring how capabilities can be employed across areas of increasing risk, as highlighted in the graphic below. This is particularly relevant for a platform like the OA-1K, which could deploy launched effects from permissive airspace, but to support operations in adjacent higher-risk areas. Skyraider IIs could potentially be pushed to forward operating locations where they could conduct similar operations from within the bubble of friendly defenses. Similar concepts of operations have been put forward by the U.S. Army and other branches of the U.S. military in recent years with a particular eye toward ensuring the relevance of less survivable platforms in higher-end conflicts. The OA-1K's deployability and small operational footprint could help make it difficult for enemy forces to target, in general. The aircraft might also be useful for providing more localized force protection and surveillance around forward operating locations like island outposts, which could include counter-drone patrols. In particular, the APKWS II rockets that are expected to be in the Skyraider II's arsenal are already proving themselves to be valuable air-to-air weapons against drones, and their capabilities in this regard are set to expand further. U.S. Fighter aircraft shoot down Iran-backed Houthi one-way-attack drones with AGR-20 FALCO Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) Laser Guided 2.75" Rockets.#HouthisAreTerrorists — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 19, 2025 The high-ranking Air Force official also stressed to TWZ that SOCOM and AFSOC still expect to be tasked with the kinds of lower-intensity missions and crisis response scenarios in environments with more permissive airspace that led to the acquisition of the OA-1K in the first place. 'We still have this requirement on the SOCOM side of the house to do counter-terrorism, crisis response, counter-VEO ['violent extremist organization missions]. And really, that was the notion of the OA-1K originally, [it] was a cost-effective platform in the counter-violent extremism environment,' they said. 'So that still is a relevant mission set.' They also highlighted how continuing to engage with allies and partners in the Pacific region on lower-intensity fights where the OA-1K is relevant remains an important way of building military-to-military relationships that could extend into a future major conflict. 'Now you start to think about competition and building relationships with allies and partners. And there's all the lead-up to something someday, where there's just this notion of strengthening relationships,' they explained. 'How do you train with partner nations? Many of them still have their own counter-VEO concerns, they also have their own counter-terrorism/crisis response concerns. How could we support them if it's in the Pacific or anywhere else?' The Air Force has also raised the possibility of utilizing OA-1K's closer to home, including in support of border security missions. Since January, President Donald Trump's administration has significantly expanded U.S. military support to civilian law enforcement agencies along the southern border with Mexico, as well as surrounding bodies of water. The Skyraider II would offer a lower-cost alternative to the MQ-9 Reapers that have been supporting those operations, as well as augment higher-end ISR platforms now in use, or even supplant them in more limited ways. They could also supplement U.S. Customs and Border Protection ISR aircraft. There are additional questions surrounding the OA-1K beyond just AFSOC plans to employ the aircraft. The Air Force's stated plan is to leverage personnel and other resources from the divestment of U-28A Draco and MC-12 turboprop-powered crewed ISR aircraft to help field the Skyraider II. At the same time, the service, along with SOCOM, insists that the OA-1K is not intended as a direct replacement for those aircraft. SOCOM and AFSOC have faced criticism, including from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a Congressional watchdog, over how these force structure decisions were made and the potential for resulting gaps in ISR capacity. 'Right now, our focus, really, at this point, is ensuring that the OA-1K is on time,' the Air Force official told us when asked about any plans for a more direct replacement for the U-28As and MC-12s. The Pentagon's top leadership under President Trump is also promising a major realignment of priorities in the proposed defense budget for the 2026 Fiscal Year. This is already having major impacts on various programs, especially within the U.S. Army, and other efforts across the services could be staring down major cuts, if not outright cancellation. 'I really don't have any info for you there,' the Air Force official told us when asked about any concerns that the OA-1K could be on the chopping block, especially over questions about its future relevance in high-end conflicts. 'I, frankly, don't know, and I don't have any indication that the program is going to get canceled. We've got our birds that continue to deliver. We're focused on, how do we get the crews trained? How do we get it outfitted to be able to make its first push down range to meet SOCOM requirements? And, you know, there's all kinds of speculation about budgets and whatnot out there, but right now, our focus is really not on that. It's about fielding the combat capability.' In the meantime, the Air Force is looking at launched effects with standoff range and other new capabilities, as well as concepts of operations to go with them, as potential paths to help keep its new OA-1K light attack aircraft relevant in various contexts going forward. Contact the author: joe@
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
First OA-1K Skyraider II Handed Over To Air Force Special Operations Command
The first OA-1K light attack aircraft — recently officially named as the Skyraider II — has been delivered to Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC). While the command welcomed the militarized derivative of the popular Air Tractor AT-802 crop duster, there remain serious questions about how the Air Force will actually make use of the OA-1K, as the service increasingly prepares for future high-end contingencies. Air Force Special Operations Command announced today that it had officially received a first missionized OA-1K at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The handover ceremony was attended by Special Operations Command representatives, AFSOC leadership, elected officials, and community leaders. Also in attendance was retired Lt. Col. Bill Buice, an A-1 Skyraider pilot and Vietnam War veteran. In this previous story, you can read how the name of the original Skyraider was passed over to the OA-1K. As we have discussed in the past, the two-seat, turboprop-powered OA-1K can carry up to 6,000 pounds of munitions and other stores, including precision-guided missiles and bombs and podded sensor systems, on up to eight underwing pylons. According to the manufacturer, the OA-1K can fly out to an area up to 200 miles away and loiter there for up to six hours with a typical combat load. Once there, it can conduct its mission aided by a 'robust suite of radios and datalinks providing multiple means for line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications.' In a media release, AFSOC described today's delivery as marking 'the start of a new era in aircraft modularity.' The command noted that the OA-1K 'can adapt capabilities for required mission sets, be it close air support, precision strike, or armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Its flexibility ensures AFSOC can meet the needs set forth by the Secretary of Defense and the President.' 'Skyraider II represents not just a new platform, but a modular solution to our national security needs,' added Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, AFSOC commander, speaking at the ceremony today. 'It will redefine how we approach joint campaigning, crisis response, and the evolving landscape of modern warfare.' AFSOC's release pointed to the fact that the OA-1K is based on a proven aircraft platform, the AT-802, and that it requires a much smaller maintenance package and provides lower operating costs than other conventional or special operations aircraft. The command also made efforts to stress the relevance of the OA-1K in missions other than counterinsurgency and other low-intensity warfare scenarios for which it was originally envisaged. 'The Skyraider II is a dynamic aircraft that will allow operators to adjust effects quickly for required missions and create dilemmas for our adversaries across the spectrum of armed conflict,' the command said. 'The Skyraider II aims at delivering options in a new era of strategic competition, which requires adaptiveness,' it added. While it's not exactly clear how the OA-1K will be used for a broader range of missions 'across the spectrum of armed conflict,' there's no doubt that the utility of the aircraft is already being discussed at the highest levels. The OA-1K was discussed specifically today before the Senate Armed Services Committee, which included Army Gen. Christopher G. Cavoli, commander of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, and Marine Corps Gen. Michael E. Langley, commander of U.S. Africa Command. Addressing Gen. Langley, Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona identified what he said was a 'close air support gap' in the AFRICOM area of responsibility, amid an uptick in activities by violent extremist organizations. 'As our focus continues towards large-scale combat operations in INDOPACOM and in Europe, I'm concerned that our defense modernization and optimization will trend towards those theaters, but away from other issues that we can't ignore [including] the real threat of terrorism and gray-zone operations, especially in Africa,' Kelly said. Kelly then asked Gen. Langley whether the OA-1K could fill a particular armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) requirement for AFRICOM. 'Every combat commander needs more ISR in support of our operations,' Langley said. 'I would take any additional ISR and any enhanced technologies that would add to the credibility and the lethality of our forces.' Questions about the viability of an armed ISR platform in the class of the OA-1K are by no means new. Indeed, they have accompanied the development of this aircraft as well as various progenitors. This long-drawn-out process involved roughly two decades of mainly abortive light attack aircraft projects under different names, as well as combat experiments conducted across the U.S. military, in particular in the course of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. In the process, the Air Force stepped away from the light attack initiative, and it then fell exclusively within SOCOM, as you can read more about here. Throughout these years of lower-intensity operations, there was interest in the potential of cheaper alternatives to existing tactical platforms in the U.S. inventory to carry out missions such as close air support, armed overwatch, and ISR support, in permissive airspace. As well as being cheaper, aircraft in this class also promised to have smaller operating footprints, allowing them to be flown in and out of more austere sites closer to operating areas. At the same time, by having low-cost fixed-wing light attack platforms fly these kinds of missions, expensive-to-operate tactical warplanes could be held back for more challenging missions, reducing fatigue on these airframes. By the time of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, these kinds of concepts were looking far less relevant, although they didn't disappear altogether: the decision to procure the OA-1K was made after U.S. troops left Afghanistan in 2022. Since then, the Pentagon has been busy considering how best to prepare for a future high-end fight, especially one fought against China in the Indo-Pacific region. Against this backdrop, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), in a 2023 report, criticized SOCOM since it had 'not reevaluated its needs [for the OA-1K] despite changes to operational missions (such as the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan) and force structure reductions under consideration.' Another concern has been SOCOM's planned withdrawal of special operations U-28A Draco and Beechcraft King Air-based ISR aircraft while introducing the OA-1K. While funds from these divestments will help to procure the new platform, the command admits that the OA-1K will not be a direct replacement for either and that new intelligence-gathering platforms will still be required. Some would say this leaves the OA-1K as an aircraft increasingly in search of a role. Today's media release from AFSOC would seem to support that, with its vague descriptions of the OA-1K's potential to be used 'across the spectrum of armed conflict.' When the OA-1K received its Skyraider II name earlier this year, Air Force Brig. Gen. Craig Prather, AFSOC's director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, highlighted the aircraft's potential to 'take on missions' along 'the southwest border' with Mexico — in addition to operations across Africa. Again, this speaks to the command looking to find relevant missions for its new charge. At a media roundtable on the sidelines of the Air & Space Forces Association's main annual conference last September, Lt. Gen. Conley told TWZ last September that some thought was already being given to using the OA-1K for 'novel mission sets,' such as signals intelligence or electronic intelligence, although he admitted that this was 'not anything we've committed to yet.' Exactly how and where the OA-1K might be used in an operational context remains to be seen, especially as the focus of the current Trump administration seems to be much less on Africa and other areas of lower-intensity conflict. However, the delivery of the first missionized OA-1K to Hurlburt Field today is an important milestone. Further examples of the 75 aircraft now on order will go to Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, 'in the coming months,' to equip the formal training unit. 'From when OA-1K was conceptualized and decided on until now, the world's changed a little bit,' Lt. Gen. Conley told TWZ last September. AFSOC will now hope that its new Skyraider II can keep pace with those changes. Contact the author: thomas@
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Yahoo
Skyraider II: US Air Force's retro Vietnam-era warbird makes a modern comeback
The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command has launched a new Vietnam war-styled light combat aircraft. The aircraft, previously known as the OA-1K, is now officially named the Skyraider II, a name derived from the original Skyraider that served in the 20th century. The announcement was made recently at the Special Air Warfare Symposium, marking a significant moment for the future of air support technology. Drawing from the legacy of the A-1 Skyraider, which served from 1946 to the early 1980s, the Skyraider II embodies a rugged versatility that is pivotal for current and future missions. 'I am excited about the Skyraider II. I believe we have developed a capability unique to us, enabling us to provide solutions that the nation may not even realize it needs at this moment,' stated Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, the Air Force Special Operations commander. The Skyraider II is a cost-effective, crewed aircraft designed for adaptability across various conflict scenarios. Its capabilities include close air support, precision strikes, armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). Brig. Gen. Craig Prather, AFSOC's Director of Strategic Plans, Programs, and Requirements, emphasized the aircraft's specialized role, 'While we don't anticipate the Skyraider II engaging with 5th and 6th generation fighters, it will remain an invaluable asset to supported forces around the globe.' One of the standout features of the Skyraider II is its tailwheel, which enhances its ability to conduct short takeoffs and landings. This design enables operations from unimproved or austere airfields, a crucial capability for many special operations missions. Prather noted, 'Providing scalable and precise effects is where the Skyraider II will excel. We envision it taking on missions from the U.S. southern border to African regions, presenting challenges to those we are competing with.' The original A-1 Skyraider gained recognition during the Korean and Vietnam Wars, providing formidable air support for Air Commando operations. Notable moments include Maj. Bernard Fisher received the Medal of Honor for his actions in an A-1E Skyraider during the Southeast Asia conflict, along with Lt. Col. William A. Jones III, who also earned the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in an A-1H Skyraider in 1968. The Skyraider II is built on the well-proven Air Tractor AT-802U platform. Its short takeoff and landing capabilities and small logistical footprint allow aircrews to operate closely with the ground units they support. The aircraft is designed to operate effectively in austere conditions and features a multi-mission architecture that allows it to replace multiple aircraft with its versatile design. Equipped to loiter in the field for up to six hours with a combat radius of 200 nautical miles, the Skyraider II can carry a flexible payload of up to 6,000 pounds. This persistence and a robust suite of radios and datalinks ensure reliable communication for line-of-sight and beyond-line-of-sight operations. The Skyraider II also boasts significant situational awareness capabilities, with the ability to host an array of electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) and ISR sensors. Additionally, its production and operational costs remain low, supported by a global sustainment network. With the first Skyraider II projected to arrive at Hurlburt Field in Spring 2025, it represents a modern evolution of a venerable airframe, poised to support the unique needs of specialized military operations for years to come.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Yahoo
OA-1K Light Attack Special Ops Aircraft Officially Named Skyraider II
The U.S. Air Force has formally dubbed its forthcoming OA-1K light attack aircraft as the Skyraider II. The name is a callback to the famed A-1 Skyraider, which Air Force units flew during the Vietnam War. The new moniker comes as questions are swirling around how the OA-1K will actually be employed as the U.S. military shifts away from counter-insurgency and other low-intensity missions to preparing for high-end fights. Air Force Special Operations Command's (AFSOC) leadership officially announced the OA-1K's new name at the Global SOF Foundation's Special Air Warfare Symposium today. The Skyraider II name had already leaked out in various places, but had not been formally confirmed. The OA-1K designation, which is non-standard and out-of-sequence within the U.S. military's joint service aircraft and missile designation system, is itself a clear reference to the original Skyraider. The A-1J was the last variant of that aircraft in U.S. service. The OA-1K's prime contractor, L3Harris, had previously marketed the aircraft as the Sky Warden, a name the company also said was meant to hearken back in part to the A-1. 'I am excited about the Skyraider II,' Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, commander of AFSOC, said in a statement. 'I think we have a capability that's only ours, and we are going to have the ability to shape that into something that the rest of the nation might not even know they need right now.' The two-seat OA-1K can carry up to 6,000 pounds of munitions and other stores, including precision-guided missiles and bombs and podded sensor systems, on up to eight underwing pylons. L3Harris has previously said the aircraft can fly out to an area up to 200 miles away and loiter there for up to six hours with a typical combat load. They also have a 'robust suite of radios and datalinks providing multiple means for line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications,' according to the company. AFSOC currently plans to acquire 75 Skyraider IIs, with the first example to be delivered this spring. The turboprop-powered OA-1K, a militarized derivative of the popular Air Tractor AT-802 crop duster, is a tail-dragging design like the much larger piston-engined Skyraider. The Skyraider II is set to be the first tail-dragging tactical combat aircraft anywhere in U.S. military inventory in decades. Douglas Aircraft Company started development of the OA-1K's namesake, which was originally designated the AD Skyraider, as a carrier-based attack aircraft at the tail end of World War II. U.S. Navy and Marine Corps units used variants of the type extensively during the Korean War. The Skyraider notably offered significantly greater endurance and ordnance capacity – upwards of 10,000 pounds of munitions spread across up to 15 hardpoints under the wings and fuselage, along with four wing-mounted 20mm cannons – compared to jet aircraft coming into service at the same time. The Skyraider's increasingly anachronistic look among the rest of the U.S. military combat aircraft fleets led to it gaining the additional nickname 'Spad,' a reference to French-made SPAD biplanes that the U.S. Army Air Service, among others, flew during World War I. The Skyraider's large size and impressive maximum takeoff weight also led to the creation of specialized airborne early warning, electronic countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare variants. Substantially redesigned versions with side-by-side seating for crew members in greatly expanded cockpits were also produced. With the U.S.-military-wide adoption of a standardized designation system for aircraft and missiles in 1962, the various Skyraider types became variants and subvariants of the A-1. The Navy and Marines continued to fly A-1s into the Vietnam War. The Air Force also acquired and flew hundreds of single and multi-seat Skyraider variants second-hand during the conflict in Southeast Asia. Air Force A-1s were heavily employed as escorts for helicopters during search and rescue missions, commonly referred to as the 'Sandy' mission, and in support of special operations forces. The Skyraider's ability to fly low and slow, as well as loiter for extended periods over a particular area, along with its large and diverse ordnance capacity, made it especially attractive for these roles. Skyraiders also served with a number of foreign air arms over the years and remained in limited service into the 1980s in certain countries in Africa. What the future might hold now for the Skyraider II is somewhat murky. The OA-1K follows some two decades of largely abortive light attack aircraft projects and experiments conducted across the U.S. military largely in the context of the Global War on Terror (GWOT), particularly operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Those lower-intensity operations prompted persistent interest in exponentially cheaper alternatives to tactical combat jets, bombers, and other aircraft to provide close air support, armed overwatch, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support, in permissive airspace. Light attack aircraft could also operate with smaller footprints and from sites closer to operating areas, even more far-flung ones, reducing the need for aerial refueling tanker and other support. This all, in turn, would also help free up other aircraft for more demanding and/or higher-priority missions, as well as just reduce costly wear and tear, especially on fast jets, from constant short-endurance sorties. The final decision to acquire the OA-1K in 2022 notably came after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the general end of the GWOT-era. The expected roles and missions of the Skyraider II have now come under new scrutiny amid the more recent pivot toward preparing for future high-end fights, especially one in the Pacific against China. This includes a 2023 report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a Congressional watchdog, that noted U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) had 'not reevaluated its needs [for the OA-1K] despite changes to operational missions (such as the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan) and force structure reductions under consideration.' GAO has also called into question the logic of using resources freed up from the divestment of special operations U-28A Draco and Beechcraft King Air-based ISR aircraft to support the OA-1K's fielding. AFSOC and SOCOM have repeatedly insisted that what is now called the Skyraider II is not a direct replacement for either of those aircraft, and that additional platforms are being explored to meet future aerial intelligence-gathering needs. Interestingly, as part of the announcement of the Skyraider II name today, Air Force Brig. Gen. Craig Prather, AFSOC's director of Strategic Plans, Programs and Requirements, highlighted the OA-1K's potential to 'take on missions' along 'the southwest border' with Mexico. The use of U.S. military ISR aircraft, including highly capable strategic-focused Air Force RC-135V/W Rivet Joints and Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol planes, to surveil parts of Mexico from U.S. and international airspace has surged under President Donald Trump. Prather also highlighted operations across Africa as potentially being in the OA-1K's future. There has also been talk in the past about whether the Skyraider II could be used in more novel ways for crisis response and other missions. 'From when OA-1K was conceptualized and decided on until now, the world's changed a little bit,' Conley told TWZ and others at a media roundtable on the sidelines of the Air & Space Forces Association's main annual conference last September. 'But as we move forward, I think there's opportunity to look at, again, some novel mission sets. … how quick can we get the wings on and off it so we could use it in some sort of crisis response, if we needed to? Where does the role of SIGINT [signals intelligence], or ELINT [electronic intelligence] or … some sort of ISR collect [factor in] there. I think there's opportunity for that. Again, not anything we've committed to yet.' 'I tell my team every day [that] the Pacific is incredibly important to us for all the reasons – you know, Secretary [of the Air Force Frank Kendall has put emphasis on] China, China, China – we get it,' he added at that time. 'But we've also got a rest of [the] world mission that I'm responsible for, as well.' 'We still have a global mission. … I don't think we're done in CENTCOM,' he continued, referring to U.S. Central Command, which oversees U.S. military operations across the Middle East. 'And I think there's probably some disconnects in how we analyze what the future fight will look like.' There are additional questions now about the OA-1K's future amid significant expected cuts to existing programs across the U.S. military as part of a shift in resources to new priorities, including Trump's Golden Dome missile defense initiative. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has initiated a review of spending plans for the 2026 Fiscal Year with a goal of freeing up eight percent, or approximately $50 billion, for reallocation. If nothing else, time will tell whether or not the OA-1K lives up to the storied heritage behind its new name. Contact the author: joe@
