Air Tractor AT-802

The Air Tractor AT-802 is an American agricultural aircraft manufactured by Air Tractor that can be adapted for aerial firefighting and armed combat missions. The aircraft conducted its first flight in October 1990. Used in civil operations as a Single Engine Air Tanker, the platform has also been developed into specialized counter-insurgency and armed surveillance variants.

Development

In 2008, Air Tractor developed the armed AT-802U for the United States Air Force Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance program and light counter-insurgency needs, displaying the aircraft at the 2009 Paris Air Show. On 1 August 2022, United States Special Operations Command selected the AT-802U Sky Warden, designated OA-1K, for its Armed Overwatch program. Air Tractor manufactures the basic airframes, which L3Harris modifies for armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The initial $170 million contract covers six aircraft, with a total ceiling of $3 billion for up to 75 aircraft.

Design

The standard AT-802 utilizes conventional landing gear and carries an 820 US gallon chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. Power is provided by a single Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67AG turboprop engine generating 1,350 shaft horsepower. Firefighting configurations can be fitted with Wipaire 10000 amphibious floats containing optional 35 US gallon foam tanks to scoop water directly from lakes or rivers. The armed AT-802U features engine and cockpit armor, a bulletproof windscreen, self-sealing fuel tanks, and reinforced wing spars certified for 12,000 flight hours.

Armament

Structural reinforcements allow the armed AT-802U to carry up to 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg) of payload. Ordnance options integrated onto military variants include Roketsan Cirit 2.75-inch rockets, APKWS laser-guided rockets, GBU-12 laser-guided bombs, and AGM-114 Hellfire and Griffin missiles.

Operational History

The U.S. Department of State operated AT-802 aircraft in South America to spray herbicides and defoliants over illegal narcotics production facilities. Ten AT-802i aircraft converted by IOMAX USA served with the United Arab Emirates Air Force until November 2015, after which six were transferred to the Royal Jordanian Air Force and three to Yemeni Government Forces for use in the 2015 Yemeni Civil War. Egypt acquired 12 AT-802U aircraft from the UAE in 2016, placing them into service by January 2018. United States Special Operations Command plans to operate five 15-aircraft squadrons, with initial service entry scheduled for 2026 to replace the U-28A Draco.

Variants

• AT-802: Tandem two-seat base model built for agricultural and firefighting duties.
• AT-802A: Single-seat version of the base aircraft.
• AT-802U: Tandem two-seat armored military variant modified with sensors and structural hardpoints for weapons carriage.
• AT-802F Fire Boss: Firefighting variant equipped with Wipaire 10000 amphibious floats for water operations.
• OA-1K Skyraider II: Armed Overwatch ISR strike variant developed with L3Harris for United States Special Operations Command.