US Special Operations Command chooses L3Harris' Sky Warden for Armed Overwatch effort. It will replace the U-28 (PC-12)

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/08 ... ch-effort/

Launching a new breed of military taildragger pilots.

Glad we are getting this "New" platform... next there will be a news release about our combat caravans.

I think they missed the opportunity to call it the A-1(X) Skyraider II.

Will be interesting to see if this actually is a replacement for the U-28, for US crews to operate, or if it's a platform to be used in the AvFID mission to bolster African nations' counter-terrorism capabilities. The fact that they chose the AT-802, which is probably slower, noisier (more drag), more forgiving to fly, probably can't go as high, and is simpler maintenance than the others bolsters that possibility. We've successfully used this platform with the AvFID mission before. But, it's got two sensor balls, which is a HUGE improvement over one and vital to some modern tactics, so maybe it will be a US-operated platform.

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/afsoc-he ... es.428230/

SOCOM Commander mentions five squadrons of 15 planes, each. The U-28 will apparently be kept for ISR missions.

I could be wrong, but I thought the U-28 was mainly a sensor platform. This AT-802 has teeth.

USSOCOM is a supported COCOM; they don't own bodies, they are provided bodies by the services whose job is to train and equip. So, unless those squadrons are going to be contractor operated, paid with USSOCOM funds, the services have to be on-board, because they'll have to provide all of the crews, mx personnel, training, etc. If these are joint squadrons, USAF and USN (and USA if they play, but all the testing thus far, going back to 2008 at least, has been USN primarily with USAF participation) will share the bill. If AFSOC squadrons, USAF foots the entire bill. Big USAF/USN have to be on board to cough up more bodies to SOF; if not, NSW and AFSOC have to take it out of hide.

As far as keeping both U-28's and the AT-802, that will be a REALLY big sell; crazier things have happened, but I wouldn't bet on it. USAF isn't giving AFSOC all the bodies they want (need) for just the number of C-130 platforms they want (need), now USAF will have to cough up more? Or, AFSOC will have to take out of hide more? And AFSOC and USAF already want out of the tactical ISR business; there's a reason why the MC-12/Project Liberty went to ANG....because there was no appetite for the AD services to keep that mission and OKC just happened to be a unit without an airplane. Maybe some of those AT-802 squadrons will be ANG/AFRC? That's one solution. But, logical solutions aren't the strong suit of these decision-making processes.

It's telling there hasn't been more released on this. Where are the announcements of bed-down locations like there were with the F-35, KC-46, etc? What about the environmental impact statements for new squadrons? Are they being done? They may be, but no announcements. Given the rapid IOE date, I'd have expected more along those lines.

The U-28 is a capable aircraft. But, without getting into specific capabilities, there's more to those missions than just strike platforms (IMINT, SIGINT, C2 Datalink, etc). There are multiple platforms serving multiple roles, all required for a successful mission. See the link below for an idea of the complexity of SOF missions......and know that these vignettes are dumbed down for simplicity and classification.

Regarding my statement of surprise they went with this platform, I was referencing the other two "leading" options of the Super Tucano and Beechcraft AT-6, which are both just as well armed. DoD has been doing extensive testing with both of those platforms, even lost a USN pilot to a crash while testing the Super Tucano on the White Sands Missile Range, but hardly any testing with the AT-802 relative to the other two. The AT may have capabilities that I am not aware of (Ku Band, etc), and I do see it has two sensor balls, so that is a big win if the others don't.

https://www.airforcemag.com/article/rem ... e-warfare/

Whomever chooses these names has no sense of history.

https://www.airforcetimes.com/news/your ... bat-plane/

The United States operates armed PC12's? Can this be answered true or false?

True.

U-28

The United States operates armed PC12's? Can this be answered true or false?

Longer loiter and almost 5,000lb more capacity, and 3 sensor pods (not two as I said above), based on what I read.

I have zero understanding of military flight dynamics…

But seems like an air tractors proven ability to operate and be supported in very austere environments would be useful even if they’re slow.