In April 2025, L3Harris celebrated the Skyraider II delivery ceremony and has since delivered additional aircraft to maintain operational readiness. The Skyraider II is designed to operate without traditional runways, enabling take-offs and landings from virtually any location, making it a crucial asset for the joint force.
The Sky Warden, from which the Skyraider II is derived, offers unmatched flexibility and connectivity. It can link with any joint force network globally, providing real-time voice, video, and datalink communication, all while maintaining a smaller footprint and lower operational costs compared to conventional military aircraft.
One of the Sky Warden’s key features is its modular design, allowing the rapid integration of various sensors, communications equipment, and combat payloads. The aircraft can be disassembled within six hours and reassembled quickly for crisis response, providing unparalleled adaptability for special operations.
Ground support teams in remote areas benefit from the Sky Warden’s cost-efficient and logistically simple platform. Unlike traditional jets that need to leave the combat area for refueling, the Sky Warden can maintain armed overwatch for up to eight hours, either as an independent unit or as part of an integrated ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) strike network.
L3Harris highlights the international appeal of the Sky Warden as a multi-mission solution suitable for partner nations. “Many partner nations recognize the growing need to strengthen their own defence capabilities,” the company states. The aircraft is particularly valuable for counterinsurgency, counter-violent extremist operations, close air support, border security, and responding to natural disasters.
The Sky Warden’s versatility also comes from its base on the AT-802 platform, already utilised by over 30 countries for firefighting and counternarcotics missions. This familiarity makes it an appealing option for international partners looking to enhance their rapid response and self-defence capabilities.
L3Harris emphasises that Sky Warden is not only a combat asset but also an adaptable tool for diverse mission sets. Its ability to remain operational in challenging environments ensures that special operations personnel can maintain constant support and intelligence gathering.
Source: L3Harris Technologies.
