Air Tractor AT-802

The Air Tractor AT-802 was conceived as an agricultural aircraft, designed and manufactured by Air Tractor. The aircraft first flew in the United States in October 1990, with a design that incorporates a chemical hopper situated between the engine firewall and the cockpit. In the U.S., it is categorized as a Type III SEAT, or Single Engine Air Tanker. The aircraft is designed with a chemical hopper located between the engine firewall and the cockpit.

A significant number of these aircraft have been converted into the Fire Boss aerial firefighting configuration, distinguished by the integration of Wipaire 10000 amphibious floats, enabling operations from both conventional runways and water bodies; these floats can also be equipped with optional 35 U.S. gallons (130 L) foam tanks, supplementing the standard 820 U.S. gallons (3,100 L) fuselage-mounted retardant tank. Air Tractor developed an armed model, the AT-802U, in 2008. The armed AT-802U variant is structurally reinforced to carry up to 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg) of payload and features engine and cockpit armor, a bulletproof windscreen, and self-sealing fuel tanks. The United Arab Emirates Air Force's AT-802i aircraft were converted to carry Roketsan Cirit 2.75" rockets and guided bombs. The Sky Warden, a modified AT-802U, can deploy guided weapons including the APKWS rocket, GBU-12 laser-guided bomb, and Hellfire and Griffin missiles.

The Air Tractor AT-802 has seen service in various roles and regions. Initially designed for agricultural purposes, its adaptability led to deployments in firefighting and counter-insurgency operations. The U.S. Department of State employed it in USSOUTHCOM AOR for herbicide and defoliant dispersal over narcotics production sites. The United Arab Emirates Air Force operated ten AT-802i aircraft converted by IOMAX USA, armed with rockets and guided bombs, until November 2015, later transferring six to the Jordanian Air Force and three to Yemeni Government Forces, where they were used in the 2015 Yemeni Civil War. In 2017, a deal was approved for twelve AT-802 aircraft for the Kenya Defence Forces. In 2022, United States Special Operations Command contracted for up to 75 AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft, designated OA-1K, to support special operations forces. These are intended for armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions in permissive environments, replacing the U-28A Draco, with initial service entry expected in 2026. The aircraft is also used by civil agencies worldwide, including those in Australia, Canada, and Europe, for aerial application and firefighting.

Main variants:

• AT-802: The standard configuration, available with either a two-seat tandem cockpit or a single-seat cockpit.

• AT-802U: An armored military version with a two-seat tandem cockpit, modified with sensors and reinforced for weapons carriage.

• L3Harris OA-1K Skyraider II: An ISR strike aircraft based on the AT-802U, selected by the United States Special Operations Command for its Armed Overwatch program.

• AT-802F or AT-802AF: An aerial firefighting model equipped with the Air Tractor Computerized Firegate.

• AT-802F Fire Boss: A firefighting variant equipped with Wipaire amphibious floats for operations from both land and water.