The cropduster that thinks it can replace the A-10
As the U.S. Air Force looks to replace the legendary A-10 Thunderbolt II, it’s realizing that not every mission can—or should—be handed to the F-35. While the stealth fighter is unmatched in high-threat environments, it’s not built for low-and-slow close air support. Enter the OA-X competition, a search for simpler, cheaper aircraft that can take on part of the A-10’s mission set in permissive airspace.
The early favorites have been the AT-6 Wolverine, A-29 Super Tucano, and Textron’s Scorpion jet. But one unexpected contender has quietly turned heads: the Air Tractor AT-802U Longsword. Based on a rugged, widely used cropduster, the Longsword brings a different kind of practicality to the table. It can operate from dirt roads and improvised strips, carry nearly 9,000 pounds of weapons, and fire Hellfire missiles, laser-guided bombs, and twin .50-caliber Gatling guns.
With a top speed of 221 mph and range of 802 miles, the AT-802U trades speed for persistence and simplicity—traits that make it especially well-suited to austere environments and irregular warfare missions. Its ability to bring meaningful firepower to remote battlefields at a fraction of the cost of modern jets makes it a compelling, if unconventional, option.
Still, nothing fully matches the A-10’s unique blend of survivability, firepower, and sheer battlefield presence. As some analysts point out, the A-10 may be one of those rare aircraft—like the C-130—that can only truly be replaced by a better version of itself. But the Longsword and its OA-X peers highlight a clear shift in Air Force thinking: in some fights, simpler might just be smarter.