Air Force’s Special Operations Crop Duster Plane Will Be Flown for Training at Oklahoma Base
Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma is set to become the training hub for the Air Force’s newest light attack and reconnaissance aircraft, the OA-1K Skyraider II—even as questions swirl about the platform’s future role. In a ceremony last week, the base announced it will host the first formal training unit for the modified crop-duster aircraft, which will eventually replace the MC-12 Liberty fleet by 2027. The mission is expected to bring up to 200 new personnel to the installation as operations ramp up.
“These aircraft are truly awesome machines,” said Lt. Col. Jesse Ziegler, incoming commander of the 17th Special Operations Squadron. The initial “block zero” Skyraider IIs are not yet fully missionized but will serve as early trainers until both crews and aircraft reach operational status in 2025.
The announcement comes amid continued scrutiny from the Government Accountability Office, which recently criticized SOCOM for deciding on the fleet size before completing required analyses. The GAO pointed to geopolitical shifts—including the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and changing dynamics in Africa—that could limit where and how the aircraft are deployed. With the Pentagon’s focus shifting toward great power competition in the Pacific, skeptics are questioning whether the Skyraider II fits the future fight.
AFSOC leadership, however, is holding firm. Lt. Gen. Michael Conley reiterated that the requirement remains 75 aircraft, despite a recent reduction to 62. “The world’s changed a little bit,” Conley acknowledged, “but [the OA-1K] still provides a cost-effective close-air support platform, which is one of the missions that it was designed for.” As the first training unit stands up in Oklahoma, the Skyraider II is moving from concept to reality—carrying both operational promise and strategic debate on its wings.