New Instructor Pilots of Skyraider II Accumulating Flight Time
Branding New Eyes and Fists in the Sky: Introducing the OA-1K Skyraider II
Dive into the world of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), where the latest addition to their arsenal – the OA-1K Skyraider II – is gearing up to join the fight. This badass plane is more than just a beauty, it's the latest beastly observation and attack aircraft, ready to make waves in the sky!
The first of its kind, the mission-ready OA-1K Skyraider II, touched down at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, in late April. Now, test crews and the initial batch of instructor pilots are clocking in the hours as they prepare to train the future pilots for operational units starting in fiscal year 2026.
"Crews are racking up those flight hours, with multiple initial cadre members reaching the 100-hour milestone," an AFSOC spokesperson revealed to Air & Space Forces Magazine.
The grand roll-out ceremony took place on June 7, with Oklahoma's 137th Special Operations Wing welcoming the arrival of the Skyraider II. This sleek, two-seat beauty is designed as an ISR powerhouse, offering an aerial eye to support special operations troops in the field, just like its famous ancestor, the A-1 Skyraider, did during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
Around 25 OA-1Ks will eventually call Will Rogers ANGB home, supporting training and armed overwatch operations. In total, 75 turboprop planes will be spread across four AFSOC bases. The exact number of new OA-1K pilots expected to be trained in Oklahoma each year is still unclear.
"As test efforts progress, we'll better understand the syllabus requirements and the number of students required annually to meet operational needs," the spokesperson added.
Maj. Jehon Bendokas, AFSOC's armed overwatch requirements branch chief, predicts the Skyraider II will be battle-ready within the next two to three years. That's close to two decades after the Air Force initially launched its search for a multi-functional aircraft to support counterinsurgency fights in Iraq and Afghanistan, freeing up advanced assets for more complicated tasks.
The OA-1K is all about simplicity and affordability with a high-tech twist. This baby packs the punch of multiple aircraft on a platform that's less expensive to maintain and simpler to modify compared to purpose-built aircraft. In the past, specialized attack, surveillance, or bombing aircraft stacked up to provide support for special operations, which added up to a pretty penny per flight hour.
"Say goodbye to those sky-high costs!" Bendokas declared on the June 4 episode of the U.S. Special Operations Command's official podcast, SOFcast. "The intent is to collapse that expensive, stacked aircraft setup, and create a cost-effective, multi-role platform capable of close air support, precision strikes, and armed ISR."
Imagine a Skyraider II completing an ISR-focused sortie, gathering intel about a village where a special operations team is having a sit down with local leaders. If things take a turn for the worse, the aircraft can just swap its payload for weapons and step up to the plate! The modular design ensures the Skyraider II's longevity as new capabilities are developed in the future.
The creation of the OA-1K was significantly influenced by a 2017 ambush in Niger that claimed the lives of four U.S. Green Berets. This tragic event highlighted the need for improved ISR and close air support coverage for isolated special operations teams.
"The Skyraider II steps in, filling a crucial gap previously filled by aircraft such as the A-1 Skyraider and A-37 Dragonfly," Bendokas explained. These nifty platforms were no mere workhorses in Vietnam and Korea when it came to surveying battlefields, providing forward air traffic control, or target designation. Many of the pilots and weapons systems officers who will soon fly the OA-1K cut their teeth on aircraft such as the MC-12 and U-28 propeller planes, which performed similar roles over Afghanistan and Iraq.
Crewed aircraft like the Skyraider II offer ground troops a certain level of comfort and confidence a drone just can't match. "There's a human presence above you, they're responsive, and they're not going to lose connectivity," Bendokas said, having served as a combat systems officer on the U-28.
Given their operational autonomy, Skyraider II crews may need to be more hands-on than their counterparts in other, more sophisticated aircraft. "Imagine a pilot who's doing a level of maintenance akin to what a typical Oklahoma farmer takes care of on their agricultural aircraft," Bendokas said. "Envisage the backseater loading munitions alongside the pilot to provide support."
The self-reliant nature of the Skyraider II might just be what it needs to succeed in Air Force's agile combat employment, where small teams of Airmen move quickly between dispersed airfields to avoid enemy missile attacks.
"Some love it, some need to get used to it. But one thing's for sure – the OA-1K Skyraider II has what it takes to lend a hand in every type of combat," Bendokas concluded.
- Test crews and the initial batch of instructor pilots are currently training to prepare for operational units starting in fiscal year 2026, using the newly arrived OA-1K Skyraider II at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base.
- The OA-1K Skyraider II, designed as an ISR powerhouse, offers aerial support to special operations troops in the field, much like its famous ancestor, the A-1 Skyraider, did during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts.
- The OA-1K Skyraider II is expected to be battle-ready within the next two to three years, replacing the need for multiple expensive, stacked aircraft for support during special operations.
- The self-reliant nature of the Skyraider II, with its modular design and hands-on maintenance, might just be what it needs to succeed in Air Force's agile combat employment, where small teams of Airmen move quickly between dispersed airfields to avoid enemy missile attacks.
