USSOCOM picks five for Armed Overwatch demos
Bronco II is one of five aircraft types selected by USSOCOM for Armed Overwatch prototype demonstrations. (Photo: Paramount)
US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has selected a Leidos-led team among five contenders for the final phase of its Armed Overwatch aircraft prototype programme.
Leidos is working with Paramount USA and Vertex Aerospace.
The team takes a share of the $19.3 million allocated for prototype demonstrations. Leidos will provide its Bronco II for the Phase III Operational Prototype Demonstration in late June.
USSOCOM wants Armed Overwatch to deliver a new capability for close air support, precision strike and ISR missions. Shephard Defence Insight notes a requirement for up to 75 platforms to replace a fleet of U-28A (Pilatus PC-12) aircraft.
Other participants include MAG Aerospace (with the MC-208 Guardian), Textron Aviation Defense (AT-6E Wolverine), L3Harris Technologies (AT-802U Sky Warden) and Sierra Nevada (MC-145B Wily Coyote).
Bronco II —based on the Advanced High-Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft from Paramount — has been built to meet the specific needs of SOF, with a variety of optional payloads such as ELINT, medical supplies, resupplies, fuel drums and airdrops.
It can be reassembled in the field in less than 12h and features modular mission systems to enable rapid system changes, updates, additions, integration and removal. The internal Interchangeable Multi-Mission System Bay on Bronco II allows the aircraft to be reconfigured, while remotely deployed, in less than 2h.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Special Operations
-
Polaris unveils new military snowmobile for Arctic SOF operations
Polaris Government and Defense has launched the Military 850 TITAN 155 snowmobile ahead of SOF Week 2025. Designed for immediate deployment in cold-weather environments, the platform will enter trials with special operations forces by year-end, targeting NATO’s northern and eastern European members.
-
Canadian light and beacon solutions promise to improve safety for SOF teams
Solutions supplied by Adventure Tactical currently equip military and law enforcement forces of 24 countries.
-
SOF Week 2025: Global threats and industry opportunities in focus (video)
At SOF Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida, Stu Bradin, President and CEO of the Global SOF Foundation (GSOF), underscored the increasing operational demands placed on special operations forces (SOF) as global tensions mount.
-
Japan to set up DARPA-style institute to tackle evolving threat of cyber warfare
Japan’s Ministry of Defense is devoting government-level effort and funding to tackling the growing problem of cyber warfare.
-
Eurosatory day four: Images from across the show
All the best images from the penultimate day of Eurosatory 2024 which brought the security industry into sharper focus for attendees to the Parc des Expositions de Villepinte.
-
Explosive detector dogs sniff out demo explosives at Eurosatory
The Ukrainian dogs carried out the demonstrations at Eurosatory’s HELPED area which focuses on humanitarian and environmental crises.