L3Harris expands production capabilities for the Skyraider II amidst budget cuts

In the United States, L3Harris Technologies recently completed an expansion at its Waco, Texas facility, enhancing production capabilities for the OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft. This facility now serves as the central hub for the Skyraider II program, which has gained attention for its versatile use in counter-insurgency missions and armed overwatch. The expansion features an upgraded hangar equipped with advanced manufacturing tools aimed at expediting production and testing. L3Harris expects increased demand for this aircraft on the international market, despite recent budget cuts announced by U.S. Special Operations Command. This contraction occurred as SOCOM reduced its fiscal year 2026 procurement request from 12 to just 6 units. The change reflects shifting priorities within the Department of Defense, focusing more on advanced conflict scenarios. The U.S. already has plans to include 75 aircraft in the program of record, but budget constraints and a strategic pivot towards high-end challenges in the Pacific have increasingly affected niche platforms like the Skyraider II. This aircraft, characterized as a 'crop duster on steroids,' is built on the robust Air Tractor AT-802U platform and is highly modular, designed for global deployment with the ability to be broken down and shipped via cargo planes. L3Harris also notes that international discussions have been ongoing with several countries interested in acquiring the Skyraider II, although specifics have not been disclosed. As SOCOM prepares for reduced numbers, the focus could shift to potential international buyers which might pose further strategic considerations for the U.S. defense landscape in the coming years.