Watch the New Warplane Debut at Special Operations Forces Week

The Brief

• The Sky Warden Skyraider 2 is a fairly compact, single-wing aircraft heavily equipped to handle any danger.
• It's one of many battlefield technologies being shown off at Special Operations Forces Week.
• The aircraft is constructed using engines and various systems that have been utilized for many years in its agricultural spraying counterpart; however, it features specialized avionics and weaponry installations.

TAMPA, Fla. - L3 Harris test pilot Clint Logwood resides in St. Petersburg. During SOF Week, he’s demonstrating his firm's latest combat aircraft near his hometown of Tampa—the Sky Warden Skyraider 2.

This is a fairly compact, single-engine aircraft that is heavily equipped to handle various threats. Additionally, it has the capability to both land and take off from a field used for cattle grazing.

READ: Pete Hegseth, the Defense Secretary, addressed an audience during the Special Operations Forces Week event in Tampa.

"I have qualifications for 88 various aircraft, but this one is undoubtedly the most enjoyable," chuckled Logwood with a smile.

Big picture view

It's one of many battlefield technologies being shown off at Special Operations Forces Week. A prime audience for the event is U.S. Special Operations Command , based at MacDill Air Force Base. Advanced and cutting-edge military technology for battlefields tops their priority list.

That's what L3Harris has installed in the Skyraider 2.

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"The sensors, the technology is amazing," said Logwood. "We can see from 25,000 feet and read your name tag anywhere in the world."

Dig deeper

The aircraft is constructed using engines and various systems that have been utilized for many years in its agricultural-spraying counterpart; however, it features specialized avionics and armaments added to it.

L3 Harris' Systems President Jon Rambeau said it's perfect for close-in air support and reconnaissance missions and specifically designed for missions faced by special operators.

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Rambeau mentioned that it is significantly cheaper compared to a jet fighter and can be conveniently loaded into a transport aircraft for global mission deployment. He stated that SOCOM might possess as many as twelve of these aircraft by the same period next year.

Rambeau mentioned that the Skyraider 2 might also be acquired by American allies. However, the price per aircraft was not disclosed.

The Source

The details for this narrative were collected by FOX 13's Lloyd Sowers.

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