Modified Crop Duster Chosen For Special Ops Armed Overwatch Mission
Thomas Newdick - Yesterday 4:16 PM
The U.S. Special Operations Command will soon be flying a much-adapted crop duster for surveillance and strike missions, according to plans announced by the command yesterday. In a somewhat surprising move, SOCOM has awarded a contract to L3 Harris Technologies for the AT-802U Sky Warden, which is based on an agricultural taildragger aircraft, making it the winner of its long-running Armed Overwatch competition.
Modified Crop Duster Chosen For Special Ops Armed Overwatch Mission
The indefinite-delivery (IDIQ) contract — a type of contract that provides for an undetermined quantity of supplies or services over a fixed period — has a cost ceiling of $3 billion and could include delivery of up to 75 AT-802U aircraft. The initial program contract award is valued at $170 million, according to L3 Harris, with six aircraft to be delivered to SOCOM under the initial low-rate production batch, known as Lot 1.
The AT-802U Sky Warden demonstrator over Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Air Tractor Inc.
As well as the aircraft themselves, L3 Harris is to supply training systems, mission planning systems, support equipment, spares, and logistics support.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/modified-crop-duster-chosen-for-special-ops-armed-overwatch-mission/ar-AA10eKeQ?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=45c77ccf415a46ac9a6f85ebe6a8af34
