Air Tractor
Air Tractor-L3Harris OA-1K Skyraider II
The Air Tractor‑L3Harris OA‑1K Skyraider II is a purpose‑built, twin‑engine turboprop developed from Air Tractor’s long‑standing line of agricultural and utility aircraft. The program began in 2018 when Air Tractor partnered with L3Harris to adapt its robust AT‑802 platform for modern intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and light attack missions. First flight occurred in early 2020, and the type entered limited service with several NATO partner air forces by 2022, marking the first time a pure agricultural manufacturer supplied a combat‑ready airframe to the Western alliance.
Key features include a reinforced 2,800‑horsepower PT6A‑135A powerplant, a modular mission suite that integrates EO/IR sensors, synthetic‑aperture radar and data‑link capabilities, and 12 hardpoints capable of carrying up to 4,500 lb of ordnance. The airframe retains the rugged high‑wing layout, short‑field performance and low operating cost that made the AT‑802 a staple of crop‑dusting, while adding a glass cockpit and fly‑by‑wire flight‑control augmentation.
Its significance lies in offering a low‑cost, high‑availability platform for persistent ISR and close‑air support, especially in austere environments where traditional jet assets are impractical. The OA‑1K Skyraider II demonstrates how legacy agricultural designs can be repurposed for modern military needs, influencing future hybrid‑role aircraft development.
Key features include a reinforced 2,800‑horsepower PT6A‑135A powerplant, a modular mission suite that integrates EO/IR sensors, synthetic‑aperture radar and data‑link capabilities, and 12 hardpoints capable of carrying up to 4,500 lb of ordnance. The airframe retains the rugged high‑wing layout, short‑field performance and low operating cost that made the AT‑802 a staple of crop‑dusting, while adding a glass cockpit and fly‑by‑wire flight‑control augmentation.
Its significance lies in offering a low‑cost, high‑availability platform for persistent ISR and close‑air support, especially in austere environments where traditional jet assets are impractical. The OA‑1K Skyraider II demonstrates how legacy agricultural designs can be repurposed for modern military needs, influencing future hybrid‑role aircraft development.
Classification
Dimensions
- Wing Area
- 37.25 square metre
- Length
- 11.43 metre
- Height
- 3.96 metre
- Mass
- 3703 kilogram
Performance
- Maximum Speed
- 180 knot
- Range
- 2414 kilometre
Design & Classification
- Primary Use
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Air Tractor
- Developer
- Air Tractor, L3Harris Technologies
- Military Designation
- OA-1K
- Engine
- PT6A-67F
- Operator
-
United States Special Operations Command
- Wikidata ID
- Q115809816