L3Harris closing in on first export sales of Sky Warden armed turboprop
L3Harris is closing in on its first international sale of the Sky Warden — known to the U.S. Air Force as the OA-1K Skyraider II — as global interest surges in the armed turboprop’s rugged, low-cost capabilities. Company officials say they’re in advanced talks with three overseas customers, with additional discussions underway across Africa, the Middle East, the Pacific, and even Europe.
Originally designed for U.S. Special Operations Command’s Armed Overwatch program, the Sky Warden beat out rivals in 2022 to become the U.S. Air Force’s newest light attack and ISR platform. Priced at under $1,000 per flight hour, it dramatically undercuts tactical jets like the F-15E or A-10, while offering eight-hour endurance, nine hardpoints, advanced sensors, and the ability to operate from short, rugged airstrips. “That’s obviously much more cost-effective than trying to get a stack of F-16s and Strike Eagles up there,” said Col. Justin Bronder, who oversees SOCOM’s fixed-wing procurement.
L3Harris has already delivered the first operational OA-1Ks, with production ramping toward 12 aircraft per year and SOCOM’s 75-aircraft order expected to wrap by 2029. To keep its Tulsa assembly line humming, the company is pursuing foreign buyers aggressively, pitching the aircraft’s blend of adaptability, simplicity, and low operating cost as ideal for nations facing irregular threats or operating in austere environments.
Featuring reinforced landing gear, a tandem cockpit, and short-takeoff capability, the tail-wheel Sky Warden can deploy rapidly, loiter for extended periods, and deliver precision strike options without the logistical burden of high-end fighters. Lt. Col. Shawna Mattys describes it as a flexible platform that can “rapidly deploy to any emerging crisis,” giving commanders a persistent and affordable way to support operations at the edge of great-power competition.