L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor announce Sky Warden aircraft
Sky Warden is based on the rugged and capable Air Tractor AT-802, which features the largest payload capacity of any single turbo engine aircraft. (Photo: L3Harris Technologies)
L3Harris Technologies and Air Tractor have announced a collaboration to produce the AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft.
Sky Warden is an affordable, production-ready aircraft designed for airborne ISR and other missions in extreme combat environments.
The aircraft is based on the rugged Air Tractor AT-802, which features the largest payload capacity of any single-engine turboprop aircraft.
It is equipped with L3Harris’ family of communications, sensors and airborne ISR solutions. The platform is backed by the company’s turnkey ISR operation experience.
The multi-mission platform provides the operator agility and flexibility to identify, track and react to counter threats.
It combines the capabilities of larger ISR with that of armed aircraft.
It is capable of takeoff and landing on unimproved airstrips, allowing the aircraft to be deployed and co-located with special mission operators.
President of Air Tractor, Jim Hirsch commented ‘Air Tractor aircraft were developed precisely to operate in austere environments with limited infrastructure’.
Sky Warden combines the heritage of the A-1E Sky Raider and the U-28, which uses the callsign ‘Warden’, to collapse the stack, providing one aircraft capable of multiple mission roles.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
More from Air Warfare
-
June drone digest: Landmark CCA contract and deep-strike capability flourishes at Eurosatory
June 2026 saw the landmark acquisition of the first fighter-type Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), while the month also hosted Eurosatory, which showcased deep-strike capabilities and production deals with the civilian industry.
-
BAE Systems' UK Combat Air Demonstrator closes in on final assembly
The first render for the demonstrator was unveiled in July 2025, with BAE Systems now aiming for the start of final assembly by the end of 2026 to prepare the aircraft for first flight by 2027.
-
Rapid APKWS integration sparks “strong” demand from Typhoon customers
The recent operational use and success of the APKWS laser-guidance kit on the UK RAF's Typhoons has driven demand from other Eurofighter customers for integration of the system on their own combat aircraft fleet, according to BAE Systems.
-
Eurosatory 2026: Wartime iteration gives Ukraine an edge as future UAV exporter
As industrial-scale drone production proves its battlefield worth in Ukraine, what happens to that production capacity and knowhow once the guns fall silent – and is Ukraine about to become one of the world’s most credible UAV export partners?