Built to fight the War on Terror, can the OA-1K survive in a contested peer environment?
The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) is testing the new OA-1K Skyraider II attack plane at Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base. Named for the legendary Douglas A-1 Skyraider of Korea and Vietnam fame, the Skyraider II is designed to support isolated special operations troops in austere, out-of-the-way locations.
The 96th Test Wing (TW) is coordinating with AFSOC to evaluate the aircraft’s military airworthiness and verify the manufacturer’s performance data. 96th TW personnel will also judge the Skyraider II’s suitability for the envisioned special operations applications. Those applications include close air support; precision strike; strike coordination; Forward Air Control; and armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
Armed Overwatch
AFSOC’s Armed Overwatch program sought a small, single-engine, crewed aircraft that was easily deployable, sustainable, and affordable. The aircraft had to be flexible enough for multiple mission profiles in support of irregular warfare operations, and tough enough for austere environments, including a minimal support footprint. Short takeoff and landing capability on unimproved airstrips was not optional. The aircraft must be able to operate alongside the units it supports.
The L3Harris Air Tractor AT-802U Sky Warden platform was announced as the contract’s winner on August 1, 2022. The propeller-driven AT-802U is a proven aircraft already in service with several nations. The OA-1K variant will only be available to the United States military, at least for now.
The AT-802U has a remarkably low operating cost of only hundreds of dollars per hour. Compare that to the thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars per hour for its jet engine counterparts performing the same mission. If it attains final approval, the Skyraider II will supplement the U-28A Draco, taking over many of its roles, though the Draco will remain in limited service.
OA-1K Skyraider II Advantages
The OA-1K is versatile, a trait enhanced by the aircraft’s inherent modularity. The Skyraider II will be capable of multiple sensory and ordnance configurations based on the mission at hand. The OA-1K variant’s full range of capabilities is not yet available, but the AT802U is equipped with eight wing-mounted hardpoints rated for 500 lb. munitions and two centerline points for 1,000 lb. weapons, for a total payload of 8,000 lbs. The two inner hardpoints can mount external guns ranging from .50-caliber machine guns to a 20mm cannon.
The Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F engine rides in an armored compartment. The self-sealing fuel tanks are also armored. The Skyraider II will carry a two-person crew. The aircraft’s top speed is 245 miles per hour at 10,000 feet with an effective range of 1,500 miles at 8,000 feet.
The three-point landing gear includes a tail wheel, a once-ubiquitous feature that hasn’t appeared on a new Air Force plane for over five decades. The tail wheel helps the Skyraider II operate from grass or dirt landing surfaces and enhances the short landing capability.
The aircraft’s long range allows extended loiter time in the support role. The rugged characteristics and reduced maintenance requirements mean the Skyraider II can operate far forward, with faster response times and quick turnarounds.
The OA-1K’s Disadvantages
The Armed Overwatch program sought an aircraft that would be ideal for supporting special ops units in environments common to the Global War on Terror (GWOT). The United States, however, has pivoted back to a peer or near-peer stance reminiscent of the Cold War. Can a slow-moving aircraft survive in an environment populated by sophisticated air defenses and supersonic missiles?
An Air Force official, speaking to The War Zone, remarked that the Skyraider II will evolve as it deploys. “The way the OA-1K will look on Day One is not how, probably, the OA-1K will look on Day 1,000.” That may very well be the case, given the aircraft’s modularity and versatility. Special ops missions would still play a role in a future war with China or Russia, and the OA-1K’s small operational footprint could be very valuable.
Likewise, the aircraft’s long loiter time could prove adept at providing local force protection around forward outposts, including anti-drone work. Such an aircraft would have no trouble working within a ground-based air defense network and might be more capable than a jet in some instances.
The current test period should reveal some of these possibilities, pointing the way forward for the Skyraider II. The Air Force currently has 62 aircraft on order.
About the Author: William Lawson
William Lawson is a military historian focusing on World War II and 20th century conflicts and the American Civil War. His specialty is operational level warfare, especially American amphibious doctrine. He writes on history, politics, and firearms for multiple publications and historical journals. He serves on the editorial advisory board for the Saber & Scroll Journal and Military History Chronicles and is a member of the Society for Military History and the American Historical Association. Lawson is based in Virginia.
Image: DVIDS.
