The company said it has fielded two variants built on a common foundation. The OA-1K Skyraider II serves U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, while SKY RAIDER II INTERNATIONAL is intended for allied and partner nations through direct commercial sales.
L3Harris said the aircraft provide five hours of surveillance and strike capability at a lower cost than traditional platforms. The company said the design supports real-time connectivity between airborne assets, ground forces and command elements.
The OA-1K Skyraider II is designed for armed overwatch missions supporting special operations forces on the ground. L3Harris said its dual-operator configuration allows simultaneous intelligence tracking, target development and mission execution.
The aircraft is intended to complement AFSOC’s existing force structure alongside the AC-130J, MC-130J and CV-22. The company said this creates a more balanced and resilient special operations air fleet.
Both Skyraider variants use a modular architecture intended to support several mission sets without requiring multiple specialised aircraft. L3Harris said the aircraft can integrate systems for ISR, strike, electronic warfare, maritime surveillance, counter-UAS, border security and disaster response.
Possible mission systems include Red Wolf kinetic launched effects for long-range precision strike and Green Wolf electronic warfare payloads for electronic attack detection, identification, location and reporting. The aircraft can also carry WESCAM MX-Series electro-optical and infrared sensors for surveillance, target acquisition and designation at medium-to-high altitudes.
SKY RAIDER II INTERNATIONAL is based on the Air Tractor AT-802 platform. L3Harris said more than 1,200 AT-802 aircraft have been delivered to more than 50 countries across six continents, giving customers access to existing training and supply chains.
The international version, when fully equipped with sensors and weapons, provides five hours of endurance at a 250-nautical-mile radius, according to the company. L3Harris said that is nearly twice the range of comparable medium-altitude ISR platforms while carrying almost double the payload.
The company said SKY RAIDER II INTERNATIONAL can also operate from unpaved runways at roughly half the distance required by comparable aircraft. This is intended to support operations in austere environments and remote areas.
L3Harris has established a centre of excellence for Skyraider II and SKY RAIDER II INTERNATIONAL production at its expanded facility in Waco, Texas. The site serves as the hub for U.S. Air Force production and international programmes.
The company said the facility reflects an acquisition model intended to move more quickly from concept to fielded capability while maintaining quality and mission readiness. L3Harris also said it has secured DSP-5 export licence approvals for more than 20 countries.
L3Harris said the Skyraider II family represents a shift in how military operators can approach mission success. The company said the platforms are intended to provide lower costs, faster fielding timelines and greater operational flexibility for U.S. and global forces.