USSOCOM On Track To Receive 31 OA-1K Skyraider II Aircraft By End Of FY 2026

USSOCOM OA-1K Skyraider II Fleet Set To Reach 31 Aircraft

The USSOCOM OA-1K Skyraider II fleet is on track to reach 31 aircraft by the end of fiscal year 2026, as U.S. Special Operations Command prepares to receive 11 additional aircraft for Air Force Special Operations Command.

USSOCOM currently has 20 OA-1K aircraft associated with the Armed Overwatch program, according to U.S. Air Force officials cited by Janes. The command told Janes that another 11 aircraft are expected to be delivered by the end of FY 2026.

The planned deliveries represent an important step in fielding a new crewed aircraft designed specifically for special operations missions that require persistent presence, close air support, armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and precision strike capability.

The OA-1K, also known as the Skyraider II and based on the Air Tractor AT-802 airframe, was selected by USSOCOM in 2022 as the winner of the Armed Overwatch competition. L3Harris is responsible for the military aircraft configuration and associated mission systems.

Program Size Has Been Reduced

While the near-term fleet is expanding, USSOCOM has reduced the overall size of the program.

The command originally planned to acquire 75 OA-1K aircraft. That requirement was subsequently reduced to 62 aircraft, and the FY 2027 budget request lowers the planned fleet again to 53 aircraft. The Pentagon describes the reduction as a strategic reallocation of resources to support USSOCOM’s changing priorities.

The change is significant because the OA-1K program was established around the requirements of irregular warfare. USSOCOM is now balancing the Skyraider II against other aviation, intelligence and unmanned capabilities as the force prepares for a wider range of operational environments.

The FY 2027 procurement documents show two OA-1K aircraft requested for FY 2027, followed by four in FY 2028 and two in FY 2029. The documents also state that funding for the aircraft transitions into a dedicated Skyraider II procurement line beginning in FY 2027.

Six OA-1Ks Funded For FY 2026

USSOCOM’s FY 2026 procurement request funded six OA-1K aircraft at a total program cost of approximately $156.6 million, including associated procurement elements. The FY 2026 request reduced the annual buy from 12 aircraft to six.

The reduction does not mean the aircraft is being abandoned. Instead, current procurement plans show a slower path toward the revised fleet objective.

The FY 2027 budget documents identify the OA-1K as a multi-role platform capable of operating in austere locations while supporting close air support, precision strike and armed ISR. The aircraft combines sensors, communications equipment and precision weapons to support geographically isolated special operations forces.

That mission profile remains central to the aircraft’s value.

Designed For Austere Special Operations

The OA-1K is intended to provide a relatively small and deployable aircraft option for missions that do not require a high-end fighter or larger special operations gunship.

USSOCOM’s 2026 fact book lists the aircraft’s primary function as armed overwatch. It gives the OA-1K an empty weight of approximately 7,836 pounds and a gross weight of about 16,000 pounds. The aircraft can carry up to 6,000 pounds of payload across 10 hardpoints.

The aircraft’s design also emphasizes expeditionary operations.

In May 2026, Air Force Special Operations Command disclosed that the Skyraider II can be rapidly disassembled and transported inside a larger aircraft. Once moved to another location, the aircraft can be reassembled and returned to an operational configuration. AFSOC said the capability is intended to improve expeditionary agility and help overcome long distances between operating locations.

This feature gives the platform a different deployment model from conventional combat aircraft that normally require established airfields and extensive ground infrastructure.

Transition From Legacy ISR Aircraft

The OA-1K program is also connected to USSOCOM’s broader aviation modernization effort.

The FY 2027 budget documents identify reductions in support for the U-28A as aircrews transition toward the OA-1K program. The same budget request calls for the divestment of the command’s long-endurance aircraft capability by the end of FY 2026.

That transition places additional importance on how USSOCOM integrates the Skyraider II with other manned and unmanned systems.

The command’s FY 2026 research and development documents also included mixed-reality training development for OA-1K aircrew and maintenance personnel, indicating that training infrastructure is being developed alongside the aircraft fleet.

What The 31-Aircraft Milestone Means

Reaching 31 aircraft by the end of FY 2026 would put USSOCOM more than halfway toward its revised 53-aircraft program objective.

The milestone therefore represents two developments at the same time. First, the Armed Overwatch concept is moving from procurement into a larger operational fleet. Second, the overall program is becoming smaller than originally envisioned.

That distinction is important when assessing the future of the OA-1K.

The aircraft continues to receive funding and planned deliveries, but procurement rates have slowed. USSOCOM’s current budget plan points toward a more selective fleet structure rather than the 75-aircraft force originally envisioned.

The program’s future will consequently depend on how effectively the OA-1K fills its intended role alongside special operations helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and unmanned systems.

For now, the immediate objective remains clear: USSOCOM expects to bring its OA-1K inventory to 31 aircraft by the end of FY 2026, providing AFSOC with a growing fleet dedicated to armed overwatch, close air support, armed ISR and precision strike missions.