AFSOC Commander Lieutenant General Michael Conley National Defence Magazine reported from the Air, Space and Cyber Conference that the first batch of a dozen OA-1K Skyraider IIs has been delivered to the USAF’s special operations arm responsible for air support to the USSOCOM.
Michael Conley stated that the programme is on track for the total delivery of 75 units and gave details on the near future of OA-1K Skyraider II.
Conley stated that new munition options are being considered, with the Leidos Black Arrow mini cruise missile among them. A stand-off option can allow OA-1K to engage targets in the presence of air defence, which is important as propeller-driven aircraft currently lack such options, as they were initially intended to operate in the absence of air defence.
On the export side, Conley stated that export of OA-1K has been approved for 20 countries, with interest from multiple countries.
OA-1K Skyraider II, based on the turboprop AirTractor AT-802U multi-purpose aircraft, allows for operation from short and non-ideal runways with minimal logistic and infrastructure demand that fighter jets and UCAVs carry.
The aircraft can be armed with GBU-12 Paveway IV laser-guided bombs, AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank missiles, and AGR-20A APKWS laser-guided rockets. Pods for extra EO/IR systems can be added for surveillance as well.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
