OA-1K Skyraider II lands at Wright-Patterson AFB for hands-on acquisition review

On Sept. 10th, the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base flightline welcomed a tailwheel turboprop aircraft with a wingspan broader than that of an A-10 Thunderbolt II and equipped with twice as many radios as an F-15E Strike Eagle. Air Force Special Operations Command ’s newest combat platform, the OA-1K Skyraider II, touched down for an exclusive "Pet-the-Aircraft" event, bringing the acquisition community face-to-face with the aircrew and the combat capability they have worked for years to build.

The aircraft was flown directly from Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, where operators have been refining the platform’s specialized capabilities. It was commanded and piloted by an Air Force captain and supported by the weapons systems officer, another Air Force captain. For the remainder of the afternoon, the aircraft served as a centerpiece for multidisciplinary technical evaluation, workforce recognition, and family appreciation.

For the engineers, program managers, logisticians, financial managers, and contracting officers of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center 's Attack Systems Division, operating under the Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance and Special Operations Forces (ISR & SOF) Directorate, the visit transformed engineering diagrams, contract lines, and technical data packages into operational reality.

The Genesis of Armed Overwatch: Meeting the Call of the Warfighter

The OA-1K's arrival at Wright-Patterson AFB marks the culmination of a deliberate, rapid acquisition journey initiated in 2020 by USSOCOM.

To execute special operations missions in alignment with the National Defense Strategy, USSOCOM recognized an urgent operational deficit: the need for a sustainable, cost-effective aircraft, designed to be adaptable across mission requirements, whether it be close air support, precision strike, or armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.

Historically, high-end fighters and strike platforms carried immense operating costs and heavy logistical tails that strained resources during long-loiter counter-violent extremist operations. USSOCOM required a rugged, crewed system that could operate from austere, unimproved dirt strips with minimal maintenance that could adapt to mission requirements.

To meet this requirement without decades of costly developmental cycles, USSOCOM deployed an aggressive, three-phased acquisition framework:

Phase 1: Market Research and Industry Screening: In early 2020, USSOCOM assessed over 50 initial industry white papers and conducted extensive contractor facility assessments, alongside independent RAND Corporation studies, to down-select the field to five viable flying prototypes.

Phase 2: Prototype Flight Demonstrations: In early 2021, leveraging Title 10 U.S.C. § 4022 Middle Tier of Acquisition (MTA) Rapid Prototyping authority to conduct flight trials across five competitive aircraft at Eglin AFB, Florida, narrowing the selection to three finalists.

Phase 3: Production Solicitation and Contract Award: From summer 2021 to summer 2022, the process transitioned from MTA to Major Capability Acquisition Milestone C. A competitive production solicitation was issued, culminating in a best-value contract award to L3Harris for the AT-802U integrated weapon system.

In late 2022, the aircraft earned its official military type designation, OA-1K, and in February 2025, AFSOC formally christened it the "Skyraider II," a historic homage to the famed Douglas A-1 Skyraider that protected downed airmen and supported troops in contact during the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Bridging the Gap: PMO Technical Q&A with the Aircrew

A highlight of the event was an interactive, open-forum Q&A session between the Wright-Patterson Program Management Office team and the visiting pilot and WSO. This session provided an invaluable feedback loop, allowing program managers, engineers, contracting specialists, financial managers, and logisticians to hear directly from the aviators flying the aircraft daily.

This direct technical exchange gave the PMO real-world user feedback to refine future system reviews, tackle engineering bottlenecks, and streamline the upcoming transition of the fleet from Block-1 to the combat-ready Block-2 standard.

Built for the Austere Edge: Crop Duster to Combat Workhorse

The OA-1K Skyraider II represents a masterclass in militarizing proven commercial utility designs.

Manufactured initially by Air Tractor in Olney, Texas, as the AT-802 utility airframe, the platform is modified into a combat-ready weapon system.

With the aircraft returning to its training lines in Oklahoma, the Wright-Patterson AFB acquisition team turns its focus back to contract milestones, technical reviews, and sustainment packages that will ensure the OA-1K Skyraider II stands ready when the call comes downrange.