Ukraine’s Experience: Israel to Purchase Light Attack Aircraft Based on Sky Warden Platform

L3Harris Technologies and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly participate in a light attack aircraft program for Israel.

The base platform will be the AT-802U Sky Warden, a multi-role intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft developed by L3Harris.

The collaboration will form an integrated team that will combine the low cost and high endurance of the Sky Warden with proven IAI systems. This will create an adapted configuration of the aircraft, focused on the needs of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and the country’s air force.

The new variant is called the Blue Sky Warden. It will include an open architecture of the IAI flight computer, which allows the integration of Israeli software and special functions. IAI will also be responsible for equipment supply, flight testing and certification.

The Sky Warden is a commercial version of the OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft, which L3Harris supplies to the U.S. Special Operations Command.

It is adapted to perform intelligence, surveillance, targeting (ISR) and light strike missions.

The aircraft is equipped with an armored cockpit, active protection systems, modern electronics and an open architecture for the integration of various weapons and sensors. Its design allows for the installation of up to seven weapon mounts, including guided missiles, bombs and equipment containers.