L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor Announce Sky Warden™ ISR Strike Aircraft
L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor have officially partnered to deliver the AT-802U Sky Warden™—a rugged, production-ready ISR strike aircraft built to thrive in extreme combat environments. By combining Air Tractor’s proven agricultural airframe with L3Harris’ advanced mission systems, the two companies are offering a cost-effective, multi-mission solution designed for rapid deployment, austere operations, and maximum flexibility.
Sky Warden leverages the largest payload capacity of any single-engine turboprop aircraft and integrates world-class sensors, communications, and ISR technology from L3Harris. The result is a platform that merges the capabilities of larger ISR and strike aircraft into one resilient package—capable of taking off from unimproved airstrips and operating shoulder-to-shoulder with special mission teams in the field.
“Air Tractor aircraft were developed precisely to operate in austere environments with limited infrastructure,” said Jim Hirsch, Air Tractor president. L3Harris Aviation Services president Luke Savoie added, “Combining [our] 1.3 million combat hours of ISR and attack experience with Air Tractor’s global platform enables us to provide a mature aircraft capable of operating anywhere in the world.”
The Sky Warden name pays homage to two legendary platforms: the Vietnam-era A-1E Skyraider and the U-28 “Warden.” By blending their heritage with modern technology, L3Harris and Air Tractor have created a single aircraft that can “collapse the stack,” delivering ISR, strike, and overwatch capabilities in one deployable, affordable, and versatile package.