USSOCOM adopts the AT-802U Sky Warden

[ABNAK]

It’s pretty close. 1100lbs of armor added over the ag model. 59’ wingspan, 36’ long, and needs a 13’ hangar door, this is close to a Skyraider.

https://airtractor.com/aircraft/at-802a/
6700lbs, 1200shp engine, 16k lb gross weight

https://802u.com/aircraft-specifications/
7836 lbs empty weight, 1600shp engine 16k lb gross weight.

Damn! Kinda sounds like what they did with the Humvees early in the GWOT.....up-armor them.

Thanks for the links and info. We apparently will have a modern Skyraider back in the arsenal, only this time around with "fly one up your ass" technology! Win-win!

[Gabriel556]

No problem. To put this one into better perspective, the AT802U has 22’ more wingspan than a P51, with 300 more HP, weighs about 200lbs more empty, and has 4000lbs higher gross weight.

The A1 Skyraider had 10’ less wingspan, empty weight of 12000lbs, and could carry about 6000 max gross. This is a big plane no doubt, and because of its heritage stout as hell.

[mack7.62]

Eight hours endurance and 6,000 lbs of weapons.

[ABNAK]

Eight hours endurance and 6,000 lbs of weapons.

Damn, 6,000 lbs of ordnance! Now THAT is respectable, especially since "dumb bombs" are a relic of the past and smart munitions rule the day. That is a shitload of Hellfires for aerial "sniping" with a good loiter time.

[17K]

I know they look cool and all, but an 802 at gross weight barely flies at sea-level.

It is an overloaded, underpowered, clumsy pile of garbage.

This is going to be a complete failure for anything other than Air Tractor Inc getting sweet government cheese.

[Sam]

That is one ugly plane

The Skyraiders were tough looking, the Embraer Tucano is hot and looks like a Mustang and T28 Trojan had a sleek baby. I like them.

[Slater]

I guess somebody at SOCOM saw a need for these things, probably in specific roles/circumstances (Africa?). In a Ukraine-type conflict I think their attrition rate would be pretty rough.

[fedupflyer]

So does a type rating apply before or after the up armor?

[fedupflyer]

I guess somebody at SOCOM saw a need for these things, probably in specific roles/circumstances (Africa?). In a Ukraine-type conflict I think their attrition rate would be pretty rough.

I bet they saw what Eric Prince was doing a few yrs ago and they copied that.

[AKDoug]

I guess somebody at SOCOM saw a need for these things, probably in specific roles/circumstances (Africa?). In a Ukraine-type conflict I think their attrition rate would be pretty rough.

Helping the IRS keep us in line?