Skyraider: The legend is reborn as new aircraft takes on US special forces role

The Skyraider, famous for its service in the Korean War and Vietnam, has been revamped for the modern battlefield - at least in name.

The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has officially named its newest aircraft, the OA-1K, the Skyraider II.

The announcement was made at the Special Air Warfare Symposium, reviving the legacy of the rugged and versatile Douglas A-1 Skyraider, which served from 1946 through to the early 1980s.

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AFSOC said the Skyraider II would provide a unique and cost-effective capability for modern special operations.  

"I am excited about the Skyraider II," said Lieutenant General Michael Conley, AFSOC's commander.

"I think we have a capability that's only ours, and we are going to have the ability to shape that into something that the rest of the nation might not even know they need right now."

Designed as a crewed, multi-role aircraft, the Skyraider II will support special operations and other forces with close air support, precision strike, and armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Its flexibility makes it adaptable across various operational environments.  

"AFSOC has enduring global missions," said AFSOC official Brigadier General Craig Prather.

"While we don't expect the Skyraider II to go mix it up with fifth and sixth generation fighters, it will provide value to our supported forces globally.

"Providing scalable and precision effects is where the Skyraider II will come in.

"The Skyraider II could take on missions from the southwest border to Africa and create dilemmas to those we are in competition with."

Like its predecessor, the Skyraider II is rugged, modular and built for austere environments.

One of its most distinctive features is its tailwheel landing gear, which enables short take-offs and landings and operations from unimproved airstrips.

The original A-1 Skyraider played a critical role in Korean War and Vietnam War combat operations.

The aircraft was also used by the French and South Vietnamese air forces.

The Skyraider II fleet is set to be based at Hurlburt Field from this spring.