Air Force Special Ops Command Gets First Few Skyraider II Planes

Skyraider II: Reviving a Legend

A new chapter in American airpower quietly took flight this April as Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) welcomed the first missionized OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft into its fleet. Rugged, modular, and cost-effective, the Skyraider II is a 21st-century tribute to its namesake—the legendary A-1 Skyraider of Korea and Vietnam fame—tailored for today’s complex, low-intensity warfare needs.

Built on a proven agricultural airframe, the OA-1K is a modern solution to a persistent problem: providing close air support and ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) in austere, remote regions where larger and more expensive jets can’t go. With its recent delivery to Hurlburt Field, Florida, and ongoing crew training at Oklahoma’s Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, the aircraft is taking on a critical role under the Armed Overwatch program.

More than just a throwback, the Skyraider II represents a highly modular approach to warfare. Outfitted with electro-optical turrets, Hellfire missiles, APKWS rockets, and advanced communications, it’s designed to loiter for hours, support special operations forces on the ground, and respond to crises with surgical precision. Its low operating costs and STOL (short takeoff and landing) capability allow it to deploy in rugged environments—from jungle clearings to desert outposts—with minimal logistical burden.

AFSOC’s commander, Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, emphasized the aircraft’s agility and adaptability, calling it “the start of a new era in aircraft modularity.” At the Skyraider’s delivery ceremony, 98-year-old Vietnam veteran and former A-1 pilot Lt. Col. Bill Buice stood as a living testament to the legacy the new OA-1K now carries forward.

Yet while it excels in irregular warfare and counter-insurgency operations—particularly in Africa and the Middle East—the aircraft’s slower speed raises questions about survivability in high-end conflicts against peer adversaries. Even so, Pentagon leaders remain interested in the aircraft’s potential, with officials hinting at expanded roles and further sensor upgrades.

As the military pivots toward deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, aircraft like the Skyraider II offer a potent reminder that not every mission calls for stealth or supersonic speed. Sometimes, the right tool for the job is one that’s built tough, flies slow, and sticks around long enough to get the job done.