Why does Israel need the Skyraider II counterinsurgency aircraft?
During the fighting in Korea and Southeast Asia, Douglas A-1 Skyraider piston-engine attack aircraft were heavily used, demonstrating superior performance to jet aircraft in a number of missions. It is unknown exactly where and when the Skyraider flew its last combat sortie, but documents confirm that several of these aircraft took part in the armed conflict in Chad in 1979. Considering that the Skyraider prototype first flew on March 18, 1945—before the defeat of Nazi Germany—this longevity is impressive.
An A-1J attack aircraft belonging to Attack Squadron 176 of the U.S. Navy operating in Vietnam, 1966.
The secret to the success of this combat aircraft, which had seemingly become hopelessly outdated after the advent of the "jet age," and was originally developed as a carrier-based torpedo bomber and dive bomber, was its phenomenal reliability and survivability, combined with powerful armament, long flight endurance, and ease of use on runways. Furthermore, thanks to its relatively low flight speed, good maneuverability, and the responsiveness of its piston engine, a properly trained attack aircraft pilot could use its propulsion system with great precision. aviation weapons. This was highly sought after during counterinsurgency and search-and-rescue operations, as well as during the repulse of enemy infantry attacks in close proximity to forward positions. A significant advantage was the significantly lower cost per flight hour compared to jet fighters and the ability to quickly prepare the attack aircraft for a repeat combat sortie.
Comparing the A-1 piston-engine attack aircraft with jet fighter-bombers, it can be concluded that at its operational speed of 500-600 km/h, in the absence of external target designation, the time for visual target acquisition (taking into account the pilot's reaction time) is often insufficient. Jet fighters, designed to combat troop concentrations and destroy fortified positions in the "big war," often wasted their ammunition when operating against various types of scattered insurgents. In this case, the analogy of a sledgehammer and a hammer is appropriate. With some skill, small nails can be driven with a sledgehammer, but a hammer is much more suitable.
In addition to the US Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, piston-engined Skyraiders were operated by the air forces of the United Kingdom, Gabon, Cambodia, the Central African Republic, Chad, Sweden, South Vietnam, and France.
A captured A-1N at the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City.
After the fall of the Saigon regime, several dozen combat-ready aircraft of this type were captured by North Vietnam.
In honor of the highly decorated A-1 attack aircraft, the Skyraider II designation was given to the OA-1K turboprop aircraft, jointly produced by Air Tractor and L3Harris Technologies.
The background to the OA-1K Skyraider II light combat turboprop aircraft
Miniaturization, increased reliability, and increased power density of turboprop engines have made it possible to create fairly compact turboprop engines suitable for installation on light training aircraft.
Serial production of the PC-7 Turbo Trainer began in August 1978. Designed by specialists from the Swiss company Pilatus, this trainer was not the first turboprop-powered "flying desk" of its kind, but it was this aircraft, thanks to its successful combination of high performance, reliability, and relatively low operating costs, that gained widespread popularity. The PC-7 trainer was operated by more than 25 countries. Including upgraded variants, more than 600 were built.
Austrian Air Force PC-7 Turbo Trainer aircraft
Very soon, PC-7 operators realized that, in addition to its training and training missions, the aircraft was also suitable for use as a light attack aircraft or reconnaissance and spotter aircraft. This was especially relevant for Third World countries with limited funds and problems with various insurgents.
The RS-7 was first used for ground attack missions against leftist rebels in 1982 during the Guatemalan civil war. Aircraft of this type participated in at least seven armed conflicts in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East during the 1980s and 1990s. A later modification, the RS-9, with improved avionics and a new, more powerful engine, was developed, but due to higher costs and export restrictions imposed by the Swiss government on deliveries, it was no longer used. weapons In countries with high levels of violence, this aircraft did not have any significant export success.
Following the Pilatus in the first half of the 1980s, the Brazilian EMB 312 Tucano entered the global arms market, which from the very beginning was positioned not only as a training aircraft, but also as a light attack aircraft.
EMB 312 Tucano combat training aircraft
Even at the design stage, the goal of minimizing life cycle costs was set, and the Tucano became one of the most successful and commercially successful combat trainer aircraft of the late 20th century, receiving well-deserved recognition both in Brazil and abroad.
Two modifications were produced under the EMB 312 Tucano designation: the T-27 and the AT-27. The first variant was primarily intended for advanced flight training and training flights. The second was a light attack aircraft, equipped with armored backrests and localized cockpit armor.
Tucano deliveries are known to have been made to Honduras, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Paraguay, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela. In almost all of these countries, the turboprops were used in combat against their neighbors or in internal conflicts.
Turboprop attack aircraft, developed in the 1970s and 1980s based on the Pilatus and Tucano trainers, proved to be a very successful solution for many countries in need of aircraft for this purpose. Of course, single-engine aircraft are somewhat inferior in combat survivability and strike potential to purpose-built twin-engine turboprop attack aircraft such as the OV-10 Bronco, OV-1 Mohawk, and IA-58A Pucara. However, not all countries with a need for counterinsurgency aircraft could afford to acquire specialized attack aircraft for political and economic reasons.
The EMB-314 Super Tucano, which entered serial production in 2003, proved even more successful as a light attack aircraft. Compared to the earlier model, this aircraft, in addition to a more powerful engine, featured a new canopy, improved avionics with liquid crystal displays, and the ability to use night vision devices. In addition to the inertial navigation system, the avionics now include a satellite navigation receiver. The cockpit and vulnerable structural components are protected by Kevlar armor. The armament has also become significantly more powerful. rockets with thermal guidance and radar jamming, there are automatic devices for firing thermal decoys and dipole reflectors.
EMB-314 Super Tucano combat training aircraft
To facilitate the Super Tucano's access to the international arms market, the American company Sierra Nevada Corporation and Brazil's Embraer established joint production of turboprop aircraft in the United States. In the US military, the turboprop attack aircraft received the designation A-29 Super Tucano. Two modifications were produced, differing in avionics and armament.
A-29A and A-29B aircraft were acquired by Angola, Afghanistan, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, Colombia, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Turkmenistan, Chile, and the Philippines. In addition, several A-29s were operated by the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command. During actual combat operations, it was revealed that the Super Tucano, while offering the same or greater effectiveness, was more cost-effective and less vulnerable to countermeasures. Defensethan modern attack helicopters.
For some time, the Hawker Beechcraft AT-6B Texan II light attack aircraft was considered a competitor to the EMB-314 Super Tucano.
AT-6B Texan II light turboprop attack aircraft
This aircraft is an armed modification of the two-seat T-6 Texan II trainer, which, in turn, was created on the basis of the Swiss Pilatus PC-9.
The main reasons for the EMB-314 Super Tucano's victory over the AT-6B Texan II, in addition to its lower cost, were lower operating costs and greater payload capacity. Furthermore, the American-built Super Tucanos were equipped with avionics similar to that installed on the AT-6B Texan II.
The Brazilian Super Tucano is a highly successful counterinsurgency aircraft, which has also been repeatedly used to intercept planes carrying contraband drugs. However, some specific missions required even simpler, cheaper, and yet more capable aircraft.
In the early 2000s, Air Tractor AT-802 aircraft, originally designed for agricultural fields and firefighting, were used to spray defoliants on illegal coca plantations in Colombia.
Air Tractor AT-802F dropping fire extinguishing fluid
The aircraft features a high cockpit, which provides good visibility, high maneuverability and controllability at low altitudes.
The drug plantation guards couldn't stand idly by while their source of income was being cut off, and they fired at the "Air Tractors" with every weapon at their disposal. Drug cartel fighters and leftist rebel groups have access not only to light firearms but also to heavy anti-aircraft machine guns and RPG-7 grenade launchers, so flights to destroy coca plantations were fraught with great risk for the pilots.
The situation was further exacerbated by the fact that the AT-802s, while spraying chemicals, flew "on a combat course" without maneuvering and at low speed. After the aircraft began returning with bullet holes, emergency modifications had to be made in the field. The sides and bottom of the cockpit were covered with improvised armor—bulletproof vests—and the fuel tanks were filled with an inert gas. However, passive survivability measures weren't limited to these. During "combat missions," the flying sprayers were escorted by EMB-312 Tucano attack aircraft.
Experience with the AT-802 in Colombia prompted Air Tractor specialists to develop a specialized counterinsurgency aircraft that would meet the requirements of the US Air Force's Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR) program. This program also included the AT-6B Texan II, A-29 Super Tucano, and OV-10X Bronco turboprop fighter aircraft.
The AT-802U Sky Warden, a close air support, reconnaissance, surveillance and ground forces control aircraft, was first unveiled at the 2009 Le Bourget Air Show.
The two-seat turboprop "Sky Guardian", created jointly by Air Tractor and IOMAX, differed from the agricultural AT-802F in having bulletproof armor on the engine and sides of the cabin, bulletproof glass in the cabin, self-sealing fuel tanks and a more durable airframe.
AT-802U Sky Warden light attack and reconnaissance aircraft
The aircraft, with a maximum takeoff weight of 7257 kg, was powered by a 1600-hp Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67F engine, providing a speed of up to 370 km/h in level flight. Its cruising speed was 290 km/h. Its operational range was 2960 km. The airframe had a service life of 12,000 hours.
The aircraft, fully equipped with electronic systems, cost $17 million, with operating costs of approximately $500 per flight hour. The aircraft retains the ability to install a chemical tank and sprayers. The compartment housing the tank can also accommodate various cargo, additional equipment, and fuel tanks. The aircraft has nine hardpoints for weapons and containers with targeting and search systems and anti-aircraft missile countermeasures. The armament includes both guided and unguided air-to-air weapons weighing up to 4000 kg: 7,62-12,7 mm machine guns, 20 mm cannons, pods with 70 mm unguided rockets, and bombs weighing up to 227 kg, as well as AGM-114M Hellfire and Roketsan Cirit laser-guided air-to-ground missiles.
The AN/AAQ 33 Sniper xr optoelectronic targeting system, operating in the visible and infrared ranges, supported the use of guided munitions. A combined L3 Wescam MX-15Di (IR and TV) camera was used for target observation and acquisition. It was mounted in the lower forward hemisphere of the turret and equipped with an aircraft-to-ground communication link operating in secure mode with ROVER video receivers, enabling real-time image transmission. The aircraft crew is capable of searching, detecting, recognizing, and automatically tracking ground (and sea) targets at ranges of 15-20 km in all weather conditions and at any time of day, illuminating them with a laser, and guiding guided air-to-surface weapons.
Following the presentation, the AT-802U was handed over to the US Drug Enforcement Administration's Aviation Division (also known as the INL Air Wing) operating in Colombia. The aircraft underwent field testing, but details were not disclosed.
Following the Sky Warden reconnaissance and attack aircraft, the Archangel BPA was unveiled, also developed by IOMAX specialists. This aircraft is based on the Thrush 710 agricultural aircraft, which is very similar in design to the Air Tractor AT-802 but boasts superior performance. The Thrush 710 achieves a 35 km/h higher speed and offers a better payload-to-fuel ratio.
Exhibition model of the Archangel BPA aircraft
The Archangel, with a takeoff weight of 6720 kg, can cover 2500 km at a cruising speed of 324 km/h and conduct airborne patrols with a combat load for up to five hours. It is designed to independently search for and destroy small groups of militants when the use of attack helicopters, jet fighters, or attack aircraft is difficult from a combat effectiveness standpoint or impractical for economic reasons.
The primary focus of this aircraft's development was the use of precision weapons—it carries no cannons or machine guns. Six underwing hardpoints can accommodate up to 16 70mm Cirit laser-guided missiles, up to 12 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and up to six JDAM or Paveway II/III/IV guided bombs. The attack version of the Archangel can carry more weapons on external hardpoints than any other aircraft in its weight class.
Compared to the "Heavenly Guardian," the "Archangel" is equipped with more sophisticated avionics and can carry a pod with FLIR Systems' electro-optical reconnaissance and search equipment. The "Archangel" has a centralized warning system for high-frequency and laser radiation, as well as anti-aircraft missile launches.
The Archangel BPA Block I aircraft has a two-seat tandem cockpit with dual controls and color multi-function indicators for the pilot and operator in the rear cockpit.
In terms of its ability to employ guided weapons and conduct reconnaissance, the Archangel significantly outperforms the Sky Guardian, which was originally designed as a classic counterinsurgency aircraft and has less sophisticated avionics. Thanks to its sophisticated electronic targeting and reconnaissance system, the Archangel can be equally effective in covert operations, providing close air support, and routine patrol flights. Most of the armor protection on the Archangel BPA is quickly removable and can be installed depending on the mission. Some armor elements are reported to be able to withstand hits from 12,7mm rounds fired from a range of 500 meters.
In July 2014, the Archangel Block 3 reconnaissance and attack aircraft, which is significantly different in appearance from earlier versions, made its maiden flight. This aircraft features improved aerodynamics and is visually strongly reminiscent of the German Ju 87 dive bomber from World War II.
Archangel BPA Block III reconnaissance and attack turboprop aircraft
The Archangel BPA Block III received a "glass cockpit" and an even more advanced targeting and navigation system and weapons. The two-seat cockpit for the pilot and weapons operator has been moved and elevated, improving forward and downward visibility. This also freed up space in the aft fuselage for avionics and other equipment. A more streamlined layout allowed for increased fuel tank capacity, which improved flight endurance.
The Archangel BPA Block III pilot now has access to the CMC Esterline Cockpit 4000 avionics suite, compatible with night vision equipment. The weapons operator's cabin features three multifunction displays and a UFCP front control panel. For surveillance and target acquisition, a pod with an integrated L3 Wescam MX-15 / Star SAFIRE 380 HLD optronic system is used, capable of operating in low visibility conditions and at night.
Particular attention was paid to protection against air defense systems potentially deployed by insurgent groups. Compared to the AT-802U, the aircraft's thermal signature is significantly reduced, which should reduce the likelihood of being locked onto the infrared seeker of man-portable air defense systems. When flying in areas with a high risk of modern MANPADS use, in addition to flares, the TERMA AN/ALQ-213 pod with a laser device that blinds the seeker can be used.
TERMA AN/ALQ-213 heat-seeking missile countermeasure pod
The TERMA AN/ALQ-213 equipment, integrated with the aircraft's avionics, automatically detects SAM launches, radar and laser irradiation, deploys radar and heat traps, and helps plan evasive maneuvers.
The latest Archangel modification, equipped with sophisticated reconnaissance and search equipment, is capable of detecting targets and destroying them with guided weapons without entering the range of short-range air defense systems. However, the Archangel BPA Block III is a very expensive aircraft, unaffordable for poor third-world countries. In 2017, a fully equipped version cost over $22 million, with a flight hour costing almost $800. Furthermore, due to export restrictions imposed by the US government, not all countries can acquire an aircraft with such advanced electronic systems and weapons.
Specifically for cash-strapped countries subject to sanctions that limit the supply of high-tech defense products, the Bulgarian company LASA has developed the T-Bird, a lightweight counterinsurgency attack aircraft based on the Trush 510G agricultural aircraft. It was first unveiled at the 2017 Paris Air Show.
The T-Bird aircraft, presented at the Paris Air Show 2017.
The single-seat T-Bird attack aircraft is equipped with relatively simple targeting and search electronics developed by the Austrian company Airborne Technologies, including a Self-Contained Aerial Reconnaissance (SCAR) pod, information displays, and the Airborne Lynx Command and Control System communications suite. The aircraft's concept is primarily focused on the use of inexpensive unguided rockets and bombs, as well as small arms and cannon armament. The cockpit and several critical components are claimed to be protected against rifle-caliber bullets fired from a range of 300 meters.
Given the specific nature of these aircraft, there is no reliable data on the delivery of strike and reconnaissance aircraft based on the AT-802, Trush 510G, and Thrush 710 agricultural aircraft. However, these combat aircraft are regularly captured on camera by journalists present in military operations around the world.
In addition to the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan also operate these aircraft. Agricultural attack aircraft are also known to have been used in combat in Yemen and Libya. In 2018, Kenya acquired twelve Archangel BPA aircraft. According to unconfirmed reports, counterinsurgency aircraft have been spotted in Angola, Niger, Sudan, and Côte d'Ivoire. Although the Russian internet tends to ridicule these "agricultural attack aircraft," like the F-35 fighter, there is a steady demand for these aircraft on the global arms market. At least 38 AT-802U Sky Wardens alone are known to have been sold.
A number of such combat aircraft are in the possession of private military companies operating under contract with governments fighting various armed groups. Given that these "private" attack aircraft often carry no identifying markings and sometimes strike populated areas outside government control, this raises legal concerns.
The creation of the OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft, its characteristics, capabilities, and why Israel needs it
Although several combat aircraft with different avionics, armament, protection, and flight characteristics were created on the basis of American agricultural "air tractors", work in this direction did not cease.
In August 2022, the U.S. Special Operations Command selected the AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft, jointly submitted by L3Harris and Air Tractor, for procurement under the Armed Overwatch program. A total of 75 aircraft were planned for a budget of over $3 billion. The manufacturer received a $170 million advance payment for the construction of the first six aircraft.
It was envisioned that this aircraft, deployed in "unconventional warfare," would provide close air support, conduct precision strikes, conduct armed reconnaissance and surveillance, provide forward guidance for "large aircraft," and coordinate the actions of individual special forces groups. However, as early as 2023, it was reported that the number of aircraft planned for acquisition had been reduced to 63. Against this backdrop, skeptics predicted that the Armed Overwatch program would be scaled back. However, in April 2025, it was announced that L3Harris Technologies had delivered the first turboprop reconnaissance and attack aircraft to the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), officially designated the OA-1K Skyraider II by the US Air Force.
OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft
The OA-1K Skyraider II's avionics and armament are similar to those of the Archangel BPA Block III, but its communications suite incorporates satellite equipment for real-time data transmission and target designation. With a maximum takeoff weight of 7260 kg and the use of external fuel tanks, the operational range exceeds 2400 km. The combat radius is 1275 km. The Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F turboshaft, producing 1600 hp, provides a maximum speed of 395 km/h. Cruising speed is 330 km/h. Stall speed is 169 km/h. The service ceiling is 3000 m. The aircraft is 11,4 m long. The wingspan is 18,06 m. Thanks to the robust fixed landing gear and large-diameter wheels, it can operate from poorly prepared runways.
Ten external mounts are available for mounting weapons, targeting and search equipment pods, and air defense countermeasure systems. Unlike the Archangel BPA, which does not carry small arms or cannon, it can accommodate 12,7mm machine guns or 20mm cannons in pods, which undoubtedly expands the range of missions it can perform.
The aircraft are assembled at Air Tractor's facility in Olney, Texas, and then flown to L3Harris' manufacturing facility at Tulsa Airport in Tulsa, Oklahoma, for electronics upgrades.
Google Earth satellite image of AT-802 aircraft at the Air Tractor facility in Olney. This image was taken in December 2023.
American sources write that the first batch of OA-1K aircraft will be delivered to the 17th Special Operations Squadron of the 492nd Special Operations Wing of AFSOC, stationed at Will Rogers Air Force Base, Oklahoma Air National Guard.
24 2025 October, the news The agencies published information that an OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft crashed in Oklahoma during a training flight.
The two crew members on board, one civilian contractor and one U.S. Air Force member, were not injured in the incident.
The Israel Fire Service already operates fourteen AT-802F aircraft, which have proven themselves to be highly successful. However, many were surprised when, in mid-October 2025, the American company L3Harris and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) announced a partnership agreement to adapt the OA-1K Sky Warden strike aircraft for the Israeli Air Force. The modified version, designated Blue Sky Warden, is to be equipped with equipment and weapons that meet the requirements of the Israeli military.
It was stated that the Israeli side, having received the base aircraft, will independently integrate its own onboard systems and specialized equipment onto the Blue Sky Warden platform, as was already done with the F-35A 5th-generation fighter.
The turboprop aircraft will be equipped with an IAI onboard computer with an open architecture to accommodate Israeli software and specialized functions. IAI will supply and integrate its onboard equipment, and will conduct flight testing and airworthiness verification activities in collaboration with the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Air Force.
Considering that Israel has the most powerful and modern air force in the Middle East, the question arises: why does it need "maize" fighters converted into combat vehicles?
In my view, there are two possible uses for the "Guardians of the Blue Skies." Following the events of October 7, 2023, when armed Palestinians, led by Hamas, infiltrated Israel from the Gaza Strip, followed by the Israeli military response, and the exchange of strikes with Iran, Israel decided to extend the service life of its AH-64 Apache helicopters. Although the Apaches were previously slated for decommissioning to conserve resources, these aircraft have proven useful in supporting infantry units in the Gaza Strip and in repelling Iranian Shahed raids.
Compared to a combat helicopter, the turboprop Blue Sky Warden can patrol for longer periods and carry more sophisticated reconnaissance and surveillance systems, as well as a larger and more diverse combat load. Furthermore, the turboprop's flight hour cost is significantly lower than that of the Apache.
Considering that the Gaza Strip is very close, the use of F-16 and F-35 jets to carry out airstrikes at the request of the Ground Forces and to destroy targets identified drones, is often excessive and very costly. After all, there's no need to demolish a residential building with a heavy aerial bomb if a sniper is holed up in one of the apartments when you can destroy him with a single launch of a compact and relatively inexpensive guided missile or sweep the premises with heavy machine guns.
Provided that turboprop aircraft are equipped with optimal pod-based optronic systems or search radars, as well as low-cost weapons suitable for the destruction of air targets, the Guardians of the Blue Skies could become very effective interceptors. dronesKamikaze. In addition to machine guns and cannons, low-cost laser-guided missiles based on 70mm unguided rockets can be used to combat UAVs.
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