Nat’l Guard’s new air Special Ops unit to track, attack, and kill insurgents
Photo dated Aug. 8th.
https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/sky-warden-longsword-for-usaf
The new armed attack-ready spy plane is a converted turboprop crop duster called “Sky Warden.”
Although it flies with one propeller, Sky Warden carries 14 laser-guided Hydra rockets.
Armaments load beneath the plane’s wings
The Hydra rockets have a kill rate of 93%, even though their missiles are 2.75 inches in diameter.
Ukraine is using the Hydra rockets in its war with Russia.
Why convert a rear-wheel landing crop duster to an Air Force attack plane?
It can:
land almost anywhere without a landing strip
fly up to six hours without refueling
spy
According to Congress, the Sky Warden assists National Guardsmen in fighting and tracking insurgents wherever they may be domestically and overseas.
Frank Kendall, Secretary of the Air Force, said the new planes are part of their Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.
The program is called “Armed Overwatch.”
Frank Kendall, Secretary of the Air Force (above)
https://media.defense.gov/2024/Jul/30/2003514682/-1/-1/0/240730-F-FC975-1197.JPG
However, there is a problem.
The Air Force has no trained pilots who can fly crop dusters.
Pilot training began on June 28th, when the Pentagon sent its first two Sky Warden planes to the Air Force Special Operations Command at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
The first class of pilots includes 28 Air Force National Guardsmen from Oklahoma and New Mexico.
According to the Pentagon, the target date for full-scale operations is two years.
https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-24-107556.pdf
Congress approved two billion dollars to purchase up to 75 Sky Warden planes.
It was part of their Defense Bill passed on Dec. 27th, 2021.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6OWPARs1Lm/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet
Lt. Gen. James C. Slife, four-star General
Appointed Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Dec. 19th
Tip from GAO (Government Accounting Office) press release dated Thursday.