On Thursday, October 16, 2025, the American company L3Harris Technologies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Israeli Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to develop the Blue Sky Warden close air support and reconnaissance aircraft for Israel’s Light Attack Aircraft program.
Photo: IAI
The Blue Sky Warden is based on the AT-802U Sky Warden, whose airframe originates from the AT-802 agricultural and firefighting aircraft. It was officially adopted on February 27, 2025, by the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) under the designation OA-1K Skyraider II, as part of the Armed Overwatch program.
As part of the cooperation between L3Harris and IAI, a joint engineering team will integrate the AT-802U Sky Warden platform with proven Israeli-made systems. The aircraft will be equipped with IAI’s open-architecture mission computer, which will support Israeli-developed software and specialized functions based on machine learning (artificial intelligence). IAI will also integrate its mission equipment and lead flight testing and airworthiness campaigns in cooperation with the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Air Force. The number of aircraft to be ordered by Israel has not been disclosed.
Boaz Levy, President and CEO of IAI, said:
“We are excited to collaborate on this important program with L3Harris, a long-standing and trusted partner with whom we have successful partnerships on several fronts. By combining IAI’s cutting-edge systems and expertise in mission systems integration with L3Harris’ Sky Warden platform, we are delivering a tailored solution that meets the evolving needs of the Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Air Force.”
Jon Rambeau, President of the Integrated Mission Systems division at L3Harris Technologies, added:
“This strategic partnership with IAI allows us to provide a tailored variant of our Sky Warden to meet Israel’s operational and industrial needs. The Sky Warden light-attack aircraft delivers the best-in-class endurance, payload and survivability needed for airborne ISR and other missions.”
OA-1K Skyraider II / Photo: AFSOC
AT-802U Sky Warden, also known as the OA-1K Skyraider II in U.S. AFSOC service (the number of aircraft planned for procurement has been reduced from 75 to 62 – editor’s note), was developed as an affordable, reliable, and versatile system of small and medium-sized aircraft intended to support geographically isolated special operations personnel. The aircraft is designed to conduct close air support, precision strikes, combat reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence missions under harsh battlefield conditions.
The system’s multi-role capability enables low-cost irregular operations, freeing up other combat assets and resources. The aircraft can be armed with two LAU-131A/A pods for WGU-59/B APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) laser-guided rockets in the AGR-20 configuration, or with Hydra 70 unguided rockets, AGM-114 Hellfire anti-tank guided missiles, and GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs.
Work on the base AT-802U Sky Warden was announced on May 6, 2021. The prototype was developed from the AT-802 agricultural and firefighting aircraft, which first flew in October 1990 and is used by public services in twenty countries as well as numerous private operators. It boasts the largest payload capacity in its class of single-engine turboprop aircraft, amounting to 4,306 kg (with a maximum takeoff weight of 7,257 kg).
In accordance with U.S. SOCOM requirements, the Sky Warden is equipped with a range of communications systems, onboard sensors, and ISR-class solutions from L3Harris Technologies. This multi-role platform provides users with high efficiency and flexibility in identifying, tracking, and responding to threats. It combines the capabilities of larger ISR and strike aircraft into a single integrated platform and is also capable of takeoff and landing on unprepared airstrips, enabling its use in special operations support missions.
L3Harris and IAI are currently cooperating on the Phoenix AEW&C program for the delivery of four airborne early warning and control aircraft to South Korea, as announced on September 30, 2025.
Simplify and act. Widow mission execution software simplifies complex data into a common operating picture, allowing users to tailor their interface and receive enhanced situational awareness. Learn more: https://t.co/V3Ugv4hVLA#AUSA2025 pic.twitter.com/LlafVAdw15
— L3Harris (@L3HarrisTech) October 11, 2025
Get an inside look at Sky Warden aircraft, the proven baseline for @AFSpecOpsCmd’s OA-1K Skyraider II. Learn more: https://t.co/rV407KnIRq#AFANational pic.twitter.com/q5DcQMKgYF
— L3Harris (@L3HarrisTech) September 19, 2025
The next fight won’t wait for a runway. It demands an aircraft that can launch from anywhere, connect across the battlespace in real time, & deliver decisive effects – all with a smaller footprint & lower cost. Learn more about Sky Warden: https://t.co/DkuS1d4Pcf#SOFWeek pic.twitter.com/iVS92LeEKs
— L3Harris (@L3HarrisTech) May 7, 2025
