The mixing of the Pink Wolf missile opens up a bunch of prospects for the Skyraider II, because the USAF figures out its future in a high-intensity typical battle.
L3Harris introduced on Feb. 9, 2026, the mixing of the Pink Wolf kinetic strike missile, a part of the Pink and Inexperienced Wolf household of launched results, onto the U.S. Air Power Particular Operations Command (AFSOC) OA-1K Skyraider II plane. The corporate highlighted the advantages of including a standoff kinetic strike functionality on the Skyraider II together with the present digital warfare and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, achieved by way of “each platforms’ modularity and ease of integration for evolving mission necessities.”
Whereas questions have been raised over the Skyraider’s relevance in high-intensity warfare in opposition to peer adversaries, given its main utility on low-intensity counter-insurgency conflicts, AFSOC leaders had mentioned up to now that they’d discover its use even within the Indo-Pacific. The intention to proceed shifting ahead with this system can also be indicated by L3Harris opening on Aug. 27, 2025, a brand new hangar for expanded manufacturing of the OA-1K Skyraider II at its facility in Waco, Texas, to fulfill present and future demand.
AFSOC had funding for under six OA-1K Skyraiders in Fiscal Yr 2026, down from the beforehand deliberate 12, which itself was decreased from 15 plane in FY2025. The command’s total program of document, nevertheless, stays at 75 plane.
We showcased the power to combine our Pink Wolf™ launched results car on our Sky Warden™ plane, highlighting each platforms’ modularity and ease of integration. Study extra: pic.twitter.com/gu9jlkR8vg
— L3Harris (@L3HarrisTech) February 9, 2026
Speedy integration and customization for evolving mission wants
L3Harris’ assertion mentioned that the power to combine the Pink Wolf on the Sky Warden, each developed by the corporate, underscores the “platforms’ modularity and ease of integration for evolving mission necessities together with kinetic strike, digital warfare (EW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR).” Sky Warden is the bottom plane upon which the OA-1K was developed, itself derived from the Air Tractor AT-802 cropduster, in response to the AFSOC’s Armed Overwatch program in 2022.
L3Harris’ president for ISR, House and Mission Programs Jason Lambert described the OA-1K Skyraider II/Sky Warden as a platform that may “fly, take off and land anyplace, anytime, outfitted with a variety of payloads,” assembly buyer wants for a “lean, agile plane.” He additional added that “bringing collectively Pink Wolf and Sky Warden demonstrates the fast reconfiguration and customization of key L3Harris capabilities.”
Sky Warden is developed for shut air help, precision strike and armed ISR mission units. It affords a small footprint, low value per flying hour and might function from small grime strips whereas being armed with two electro-optical sensors, APKWS II guided rockets, GBU-12 Paveway II bombs and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles.
For survivability, the OA-1K has AN/AAR-47 Missile Strategy Warning Sensors (MAWS) on the wingtips, in addition to AN/ALE-47 Airborne Countermeasures Dispenser System on the underside of the wings. A Ku-band SATCOM (Satellite tv for pc Communications) system is put in in a big ‘bump’ behind the cockpit, along with 5 different typical radio communications suites, permitting for each LOS and BLOS (Past Line-of-Sight) communications.
L3Harris described the Pink Wolf as a “multi-domain kinetic car for long-range precision strikes,” whereas the Inexperienced Wolf is supposed for digital warfare and even decoy or radar probing roles. “Like its Inexperienced Wolf EW counterpart, it affords prolonged loiter functionality and standoff vary engagement,” L3Harris mentioned in its newest assertion.
The point out of loitering functionality additionally means the missile can operate as an unmanned loitering munition, receiving focusing on updates from both the plane and even troops on the bottom. L3Harris’s assertion additional added: “This integration idea underscores the engineering prowess throughout the corporate to fulfill buyer calls for to defeat adversary threats with adaptable, open standards-based options.”
Notably, the U.S. Marine Corps not too long ago positioned an $86.2 million contract for the Pink Wolf to equip the AH-1Z assault helicopter. It’s unclear nevertheless if AFSOC is considering buying the weapon.
Skyraider II, Pink Wolf and kinetic warfare
L3Harris has not launched any particulars on the Pink Wolf and Skyraider II integration efforts, apart from a picture of the show unit of the missile on a service field beneath the outer wing pylon of the plane. It’s unclear if this setting was a part of the bottom testing of the missile’s interfaces with the Skyraider II.
Extra vary. Extra precision. Extra lethality: The @USMC is fast-tracking the brand new Precision Assault Strike Munition (PASM)! Following profitable testing by #HX21 in 2025, the Navy has awarded L3Harris Applied sciences the contract to carry this weapon to our AH-1Z Viper fleet. pic.twitter.com/es0sccb2IC
— NAVAIR (@NAVAIRNews) February 2, 2026
L3Harris’ vp for enterprise improvement Matthew “Gucci” Klunder beforehand described in a promotional video the varied prospects with the Pink and Inexperienced Wolf household: “We will regulate the dimensions of the warhead, the gasoline tank, we are able to even put a parachute on the again of it, and we’ve got. It may be a kinetic impact, it might be a non-kinetic impact, it might even be a decoy.”
Totally different warheads and gasoline tank sizes will influence ranges and the specified kinetic/non-kinetic impact, notably with heavier penetrating warheads for hardened floor targets. Parachute restoration choices in the meantime qualifies it as a drone and, with Klunder additionally mentioning the missiles might be launched from sea, floor platforms and stuck wing platforms, opens up a bunch of capabilities for particular operations operators.
In October 2025, AFSOC chief Lt. Gen. Michael Conley talked on the Air and House Forces Affiliation’s Air, House and Cyber Convention about including Leidos’ Black Arrow small cruise missile to the Skyraider II’s arsenal. “I completely see a need to have that, however not simply with OA-1Ks. I’d love to have the ability to use long-range standoff mission munitions on a number of plane,” Nationwide Protection Journal reported.
The weapon is at present being eyed primarily to supply a standoff functionality to the AC-130J, with a reported vary of 400 nautical miles. L3Harris had put the Pink Wolf’s vary at or a little bit over 200 nautical miles.
Attainable theaters
In September 2024, Air and House Forces had quoted Conley hinting on the Skyraider II’s service within the Indo-Pacific. “As soon as we get the plane […] our crew members and our maintainers will determine novel ways in which will probably be related sooner or later [and] present battle,” mentioned Conley. “The Pacific is extremely necessary to us for all the explanations [then Secretary Frank Kendall] has mentioned: China, China, China. We get it. However we’ve additionally acquired the rest-of-the-world mission […] and I wish to have all of the playing cards […] to battle wherever they want us to.”
With 45 flights and counting, Pink Wolf ™ and Inexperienced Wolf ™ guarantee warfighters have a vital battlefield edge when it issues most. Study extra: #AUSA2025 pic.twitter.com/het0wEiJBh
— L3Harris (@L3HarrisTech) October 7, 2025
Given the prevailing conflicts in West Asia and a few rising low depth flashpoints in Africa, notably within the Sahel area, the Skyraider II could be a far cheaper and less complicated platform in opposition to irregular, uneven threats. This is able to unburden fighter jets which might then be tasked for different missions.
The wait is over.
Introducing Pink Wolf ᵀᴹ and Inexperienced Wolf ᵀᴹ, the primary automobiles in our increasing pack of launched results methods. pic.twitter.com/d4oG7fgeE4
— L3Harris (@L3HarrisTech) July 17, 2025
