The Air Force’s special operators still require 75 OA-1K aircraft for missions against extremist groups, as stated by AFSOC commander Lt. Gen. Michael E. Conley.
The Armed Overwatch program aimed to buy 75 planes by 2029 for $2 billion but has faced scrutiny from lawmakers, leading AFSOC to reduce the acquisition number to 62 in March 2021.
GAO expressed concerns that SOCOM did not justify the acquisition of the Armed Overwatch aircraft properly, given changing operational needs and missions.
Conley emphasized the ongoing threat from low-tech extremist groups, despite the Defense Department’s focus on deterring China, stating that the world remains chaotic and unpredictable.
He noted that AFSOC’s history of adapting and modifying aircraft for new missions demonstrates the potential for the OA-1K aircraft to be useful in unforeseen scenarios.
