Aircraft
L3Harris Sky Warden Selected for Armed Overwatch Program
The missionized agricultural Sky Warden will be used in support of U.S. special forces in areas such as Africa.
The Sky Warden full mission demonstrator is now being modified to full production standard. (Photo: L3Harris)
The Sky Warden full mission demonstrator is now being modified to full production standard. (Photo: L3Harris)

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has selected the L3Harris Technologies AT-802 Sky Warden to answer its Armed Overwatch requirement for an armed intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform. The August 1 contract covers the supply of up to 75 Sky Wardens—plus training and mission planning systems, spares, and logistics support—and has an upper ceiling of $3 billion, of which an initial $170 million has been obligated for development, test, evaluation, and procurement. The contract is due to be completed by 2029, with initial operating capability slated for 2026.