공격기 미 SOCOM, AT-802U 스카이 워든을 저비용 감시/공격기로 선정

[위종민]

SOCOM이 L3 해리스사의 AT-802U 스카이 워든을 저비용 감시/공격기 선정을 위한 Armed Overwatch 프로그램의 승자로 선정했습니다. 조달수량은 75기, IOC는 2026년 획득 예정으로 계약규모는 최대 30억 달러라고 합니다.

에어 트랙터사의 농업용 기체인 AT-802를 개조한 이 기체는 레이도스의 브롱코 2, MAG 에어로스페이스의 MC-208 가디언, 텍스트론의 AT-6E 울버린, 시에라네바다사의 MC-145B 윌리 코요테와의 경쟁 끝에 낙찰됐습니다. 

모듈식 플랫폼 개념으로 다양한 센서들이나 정밀유도무기들을 탈부착가능하다고 합니다. 

L3해리스의 홈페이지 공개 자료에 의하면 전투행동반경 200해리, 체공시간은 6시간, 페이로드는 6천파운드이며 가시선/비가시선 통신 및 데이터링크 장비, 다양한 EO/IR, ISR 센서를 장착 가능하며 다목적, 오픈 아키텍처 시스템으로 다양한 항공기를 이 기체 1기로 대체 가능하다고 홍보하고 있습니다. 

기체 원본인 AT-802는 2인승 기체로 파워플랜트는 출력 1,350마력의 P&W PT-6A 터보프롭 1기를 장착했는데 순항속도는 8,000피트에서 221마일이네요. 고출력이 필요없는 농업용기체라 출력을 저하시켜놓은 게 아닌가 싶은데, 군수용에선 성능이 좋아질 가능성도 있을 것 같습니다. 

다시 찾아보니 AT-802U의 홍보용 홈페이지도 있는데, 이 녀석도 출력 1,600마력짜리 P&W PT6A-67F 단발기이면서 최대속도는 비무장시 10,000피트에서 214노트(394km)이네요. 대신 이륙활주거리가 14,500파운드에서 426m, 10,000파운드에선 207m이고 착륙거리도 266m이니 야지운용능력에 특화한 것 같습니다. 

https://www.airforcemag.com/socom-picks-l3-harris-sky-warden-for-armed-overwatch/?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=socom-picks-l3-harris-sky-warden-for-armed-overwatch 

www.airforcemag.comSOCOM Picks L3 Harris’ Sky Warden for Armed Overwatch - Air Force Magazine

Aug. 1, 2022 | By Greg Hadley

4-5 minutes

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U.S. Special Operations Command has awarded a contract for its Armed Overwatch program, selecting L3 Harris Technologies’ AT-802U Sky Warden as the winner of its competition for a low-cost aircraft to fly surveillance and strikes in austere locations, the combatant command announced Aug. 1.

The deal could be worth up to $3 billion and will include 75 aircraft along with training systems, mission planning systems, support equipment, spares, and logistics support. Initial operating capability is expected in fiscal year 2026, with full operating capability following in 2029.

“Armed Overwatch answers a critical need for U.S. Special Operations Command to conduct a wide range of operations globally in support of the National Defense Strategy,” SOCOM Commander Gen. Richard D. Clarke said in a statement. “This rugged, sustainable platform will operate in permissive environments and austere conditions around the world to safeguard our Special Operations Forces on the ground.”

L3 Harris unveiled Sky Warden in May 2021 as part of a collaboration with aircraft manufacturer Air Tractor. The companies claimed that the aircraft, based on Air Tractor’s agricultural AT-802 airframe, features the largest payload capacity of any single-engine turboprop aircraft. The aircraft has previously also been modified for firefighting missions.

Sky Warden was selected as one of five finalists for the Armed Overwatch program that same month, with flight demonstrations taking place throughout 2021 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

That demonstrator will now be “rapidly” modified into a production configuration and provided to SOCOM for weapons system testing, L3 Harris said in a press release. That’s expected to take six months, followed by production starting in 2023, first at Air Tractor’s facility in Texas, then with modifications occurring at L3 Harris’ facility in Oklahoma. The low-rate initial production lot will consist of six aircraft.

Sky Warden will replace the Air Force’s U-28 Draco fleet and will be both an intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft and one that is capable of conducting light strikes in permissive environments. It beat out Leidos’ Bronco II, MAG Aerospace’s MC-208 Guardian, Textron Aviation Defense’s AT-6E Wolverine, and Sierra Nevada Corp.’s MC-145B Wily Coyote.

Testifying to Congress in April, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command Lt. Gen. James C. “Jim” Slife said the Armed Overwatch program was designed to reduce the need for so-called “air stacks” of specialized, single-role aircraft to fly together over objective areas. 

In particular, the aircraft will likely be used to counter terrorist threats, often in coordination with troops on the ground.

“The idea of the Armed Overwatch platform is [that] it’s a modular capability and so you can outfit the aircraft with a robust suite of sensors that will exceed what is available with most dedicated ISR platforms today. Or you can outfit the platform with a robust suite of precision munitions,” Slife told lawmakers. “It really depends on the mission, and so clearly, the Armed Overwatch platform is not a panacea for every tactical situation that a ground force might find themselves in. But for what we envision the enduring counter-[violent extremist organization] mission looking like, we think it’s a prudent investment.”

In a release touting the contract award, SOCOM pointed to Sky Warden’s ability to carry modular payloads, its cheap operating costs, and its ability to operate from austere fields.

https://www.l3harris.com/all-capabilities/skywarden

OVERVIEW

Built on the rugged, reliable Air Tractor AT-802U platform, Sky Warden’s short takeoff and landing capability and small support footprint allow aircrews to co-locate with the disaggregated ground units they support.

Built for ISR Strike

• Rugged and Reliable - The Air Tractor 802U is designed and built for austere operations
• Effective and Flexible - Combat proven, multi-mission open systems architecture to “collapse the stack,” replacing multiple aircraft with a single aircraft
• Persistence and Payload - 6-hour loiter at 200 nm combat radius; 6,000 lb flexible combat load-out
• Connected - Robust suite of radios and datalinks providing multiple means for line-of-sight (LOS) and beyond line-of-sight (BLOS) communications
• Situational Awareness - Ability to host multiple EO/IR, ISR and other sensors
• Affordable and Sustainable - Low production and operating costs, backed by an established global sustainment network
• SOF Heritage - Mature system built on more than 1.3 million hours of ISR and Strike support and upgrades driven by mission operators
• Production-Ready - Delivery in less than 12 months

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_Tractor_AT-802

Air Tractor AT-802 - Wikipedia

Specifications (AT-802)[edit]

Three Croatian AT-802F Fire Bosses

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[50]

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Capacity: 820 US gal (683 imp gal; 3,104 L)
• Length: 35 ft 11 in (10.95 m)
• Wingspan: 59 ft 3 in (18.06 m)
• Height: 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
• Wing area: 401.0 sq ft (37.25 m2)
• Aspect ratio: 8.8:1
• Airfoil: NACA 4415
• Empty weight: 6,505 lb (2,951 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67AG turboprop, 1,350 shp (1,010 kW)

Performance

• Cruise speed: 221 mph (356 km/h, 192 kn) at 8,000 ft (2,440 m)
• Stall speed: 91 mph (146 km/h, 79 kn) (power off, flaps down)
• Range: 800 mi (1,300 km, 700 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (4,000 m)
• Rate of climb: 850 ft/min (4.3 m/s)

https://802u.com/

[백선호]

단거리 이착륙이 되는 무인기가 나오면 밀려나지 않을까 싶습니다.

http://cafe.daum.net/NTDS/51Tp/300

[위종민]

여러모로 무인기가 상위호환인 듯 한데 이런 기체를 75대나 뽑는 게 잘 이해안되긴 합니다.