The U.S. Special Operations Command is reconsidering its plan to buy 75 Armed Overwatch aircraft, as recommended by a government watchdog on Thursday. The Government Accountability Office proposed a slower acquisition of the AT-802U Sky Warden, SOCOM’s choice for the program, until a more thorough analysis can be conducted.
The Armed Overwatch program aims to field flexible, fixed-wing aircraft that Air Force Special Operations Command could deploy to austere locations. SOCOM selected the single-engine, two-person Sky Warden and plans to spend $2.2 billion to buy the planes through FY29. The aircraft would take over missions currently supported by the older U-28 Draco.
However, GAO said the study performed by SOCOM to justify acquiring 75 Armed Overwatch planes “relied on unproven assumptions” and failed to reflect expected capabilities or employment in operations. The office recommended conducting a more thorough study before purchasing the planes.
SOCOM had already decided it needed between 70 and 75 Armed Overwatch planes in 2019, but the watchdog emphasized the need for a comprehensive analysis to determine the accurate fleet size. The Defense Department agreed with GAO’s first recommendation and plans to analyze the force structure needed for Armed Overwatch.
