Air Tractor AT-802

The Air Tractor AT-802 is an American agricultural aircraft that may also be adapted into fire-fighting or armed versions. It first flew in the United States in October 1990 and is manufactured by Air Tractor. The AT-802 carries a chemical hopper between the engine firewall and the cockpit. In the U.S., it is considered a Type III SEAT, or Single Engine Air Tanker.[1]

AT-802
Air Tractor AT-802
Role Agricultural / Fire-fighting aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Air Tractor
First flight 1990
Status Active
Produced 1990–present
Variants Air Tractor-L3Harris AT-802U Sky Warden

Development

In its standard configuration, the aircraft utilizes conventional landing gear (two main wheels and a tail wheel). However, a number of aircraft have been converted to the Fire Boss aerial firefighting configuration, which utilizes Wipaire 10000 amphibious floats, so that it can land on a traditional runway or on water. The Fire Boss can scoop water from a lake or river for use on a fire. In addition to the 820 US gallons (3,100 L)[2] standard fuselage-mounted retardant tank, the Fire Boss can have optional 35 US gallons (130 L) foam tanks in the floats.[3] Operations with floats installed have been shown to produce a shorter and narrower retardant drop pattern than wheeled AT-802s.[4]

Armed version
AT-802U prototype at Paris Air Show

In response to the United States Air Force's LAAR program and the growing requirement for light counter-insurgency aircraft,[5] Air Tractor developed an armed model, the AT-802U, in 2008, with engine and cockpit armor, a bulletproof windscreen, self-sealing fuel tanks, and structural reinforcements for the carriage of 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg) of payload. A reinforced wing spar was certified for 12,000 hours of flight time,[6] and the AT-802U was displayed in 2009 at the Paris Air Show.[7]

The AT-802 has also been used in counter-drug operations in the USSOUTHCOM AOR by the U.S. Department of State as a delivery vehicle for herbicides and defoliants over narcotics production facilities.

Ten AT-802i were converted by IOMAX USA into an armed configuration with Roketsan Cirit 2.75" rockets and guided bombs[8] for the UAE Air Force. The UAE operated them until November 2015[8] when they were replaced by the first three of 24 Archangels on order from Iomax.[9] The Archangel is based on a similar cropduster airframe, that of the Thrush Model 660,[10] however to create the Archangel the basic Model 660 undergoes a much more extensive rebuild in the course of its militarization. Six of the UAE AT-802i were transferred to the Jordanian Air Force[11] with a further three being transferred to the Yemeni Government Forces where they have been used in the 2015 Yemeni Civil War.[8] Reports place Emirati aircraft in Libya flown by contract pilots.[12]

In January 2017, the US State Department approved a deal for twelve AT-802 aircraft for the Kenya Defence Forces,[13] although as of June 2017 a contract for the proposed sale had not been signed.[14]

On 1 August 2022, United States Special Operations Command indicated they would purchase up to 75 AT-802U Sky Warden aircraft to support special operations forces in fighting irregular wars. Air Tractor will manufacture the airframes and L3Harris will then modify them into the Armed Overwatch mission configuration. The planes are intended to perform armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions at low cost in permissive environments from austere locations, and will allow SOCOM to remove the aging U-28A Draco from combat service. The Sky Warden can deploy guided weapons including the APKWS rocket, GBU-12 laser-guided bomb, and Hellfire and Griffin missiles; it has a six-hour loiter time at a 200 nmi (230 mi; 370 km) radius. The initial contract is for $170 million, with a ceiling of $3 billion for purchase of the full fleet. The plan is for five squadrons of 15 planes, one deployed at a time, three undergoing maintenance, and one for training. Initial service entry is expected in 2026, with all delivered and full operating capability reached in 2029.[15][16][17] The AT-802U was given the military designation OA-1K.[18][19]

Variants
The AT-802L Longsword at Paris Air Show 2017
A Fire Boss on floats dropping its load
  • AT-802 – two seat (tandem) cockpit
  • AT-802A – single-seat cockpit
  • AT-802U – two seat (tandem) armored military version, modified with sensors and reinforced for weapons carriage[20]
  • AT-802U Sky Warden – An ISR Strike Aircraft based on AT-802U.[21] The AT-802U was selected in August 2022 as the winner of the United States Special Operations Command Armed Overwatch programme, with an initial buy of 6 airframes.[22]
  • AT-802F or AT-802AF – An aerial firefighting model 802 equipped with the Air Tractor Computerized Firegate[23] designed/developed/serviced by Trotter Controls Inc.[24]
  • AT-802F Fire Boss – AT-802F equipped with Wipaire amphibious floats for operations from land or water
  • AT-802L Longsword – An ISR and light-attack aircraft based on AT-802U, which developed by L3 Platform Integration collaboration with Air Tractor.[25] L3 rebranded it as OA-8 Longsword for Asia-Pacific region.[26]

Operators

Civil

The aircraft is popular with aerial application operators.

 Canada

Military and government
Montenegrin police AT-802A Fire Boss
Israeli AT-802F in a firefighting drill
Air Tractor AT-802A of Avialsa during a fire-fighting in Portugal.
 Australia
 Burkina Faso
 Canada
 Chile
 Colombia
 Croatia
 Egypt
 Gambia
 Indonesia
 Israel
  • Israel Police in Conjuction with Israeli Fire Department – 14 AT-802F, purchased second-hand from Spain (of which 2 formerly were Fire Boss, but exchanged for standard configuration aircraft)[42][43] 1 crashed due to mechanical malfunction.[44]
 Jordan
  • Royal Jordanian Air Force – 6 IOMAX AT-802i Block 1 being upgraded to armed Block 2 standard, of which 1 upgraded aircraft delivered as of January 2018[45][46] and 4 AT-802s supplied by L-3 Corporation and originally intended for Yemen.[47]
 Montenegro
  • Police of Montenegro – 1 AT-802 + 3 AT-802A[48]
 North Macedonia
  • Protection and Rescue Directorate of North Macedonia – 3 AT-802A Fire Boss[48]
 Portugal
 Spain
  • Ministry of Environment (CEGISA) – 3 AT-802A[50]
  • Avialsa T35 – 15 AT-802 + 14 AT-802F [51]
 Sweden
 United States
 Yemen

Former operators
 United Arab Emirates

Specifications (AT-802)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[56]

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two
  • Capacity: 820 US gal (683 imp gal; 3,104 L)
  • Length: 35 ft 11 in (10.95 m)
  • Wingspan: 59 ft 3 in (18.06 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
  • Wing area: 401.0 sq ft (37.25 m2)
  • Aspect ratio: 8.8:1
  • Airfoil: NACA 4415
  • Empty weight: 6,505 lb (2,951 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67AG turboprop, 1,350 shp (1,010 kW)

Performance

  • Cruise speed: 221 mph (356 km/h, 192 kn) at 8,000 ft (2,440 m)
  • Stall speed: 91 mph (146 km/h, 79 kn) (power off, flaps down)
  • Range: 800 mi (1,300 km, 700 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (4,000 m)
  • Rate of climb: 850 ft/min (4.3 m/s)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References
Notes
  1. "Interagency Standards for Fire and Aviation Operations 2007, Chapter 17" (PDF). National Interagency Fire Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-08-31.
  2. AT-802 Fire Boss Factsheet Archived 2011-09-09 at the Wayback Machine at http://www.airtractoreurope.com
  3. Wipaire Fire Boss Service Manual Archived 2008-07-25 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ""Evaluation of Long Term Retardant Drop Patterns from Air Tractor 802 Amphibious Float and Wheel Equipped Aircraft", Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada, February 2006". Archived from the original on 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2013-02-24.
  5. Trimble, Stephen. "PARIS AIR SHOW: Cropduster-turned-gunship makes Le Bourget debut". flightglobal.com. 15 June 2009. retrieved 7 November 2010.
  6. Exciting Product Developments In 2009 Archived 2010-06-16 at the Wayback Machine. airtractor (2010-02-10). Retrieved on 2010-11-04.
  7. PHOTOS: New gunship flies to Paris Air Show debut – The DEW Line. Flightglobal.com. Retrieved on 2010-11-04.
  8. "Yemen Air Force Flying ex-UAE AT 802 BPAs". AirForces Monthly. Key Publishing. December 2015.
  9. "Third UAE Archangel delivered". AirForces Monthly. Key Publishing. December 2015.
  10. "Iomax Archangel". Iomax.
  11. Archangel makes show debut – Flightglobal.com, 7 November 2015
  12. Delalande, Arnaud (14 January 2017). "Erik Prince's Mercenaries Are Bombing Libya". War Is Boring. Archived from the original on 17 January 2017. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
  13. US State Department approves $1.8 billion in arms deals. Flightglobal.com. Retrieved on 2017-01-17.
  14. Stevenson, Beth (20 June 2017). "Paris: Longsword light attack and surveilance [sic] aircraft makes its debut". Flightglobal. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  15. "US special operations forces will soon get support from a rugged new aircraft". Kelsey D. Atherton, Popular Science, August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  16. L3Harris Sky Warden Selected for Armed Overwatch Program. Aviation International News. 3 August 2022.
  17. US Special Operations Command chooses L3Harris’ Sky Warden for Armed Overwatch effort. Defense News. 1 August 2022.
  18. Drones, planes need new weapons and sensors, says special ops official. Defense News. 10 May 2023.
  19. SOCOM's New Recon Aircraft to Pack Big Punch. National Defense Magazine. 27 April 2023.
  20. Photos: Air Tractor AT-802U Air Truck Aircraft Pictures. Airliners.net (2009-06-18). Retrieved on 2010-11-04.
  21. "Sky Warden™ ISR Strike Aircraft | L3Harris™ Fast. Forward". www.l3harris.com. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  22. info@tractionokc.com (2022-08-01). "L3Harris and Air Tractor Team Selected for USSOCOM Armed Overwatch Contract". Air Tractor® AT-802U. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  23. Air Tractor. "AT802A".
  24. Trotter Controls Inc
  25. L3 Technologies. "AT-802L Longsword™". AIRFORCE TECHNOLOGY. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  26. Gareth, Jennings (2017-03-01). "Avalon 2017: L3 and Air Tractor marketing AT-802L armed turboprop as OA-8 Longsword". Melbourne: IHS Jane's. Retrieved 2017-05-02.
  27. "Early Bird Air Ltd. | Crop Spraying Strathmore | Home". www.earlybirdairltd.ca. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  28. Seeley, Pamela. "Early Bird Air Ltd". Strathmore Now. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  29. Association, Alberta Aerial Applicators (2013-06-30). "Alberta Aerial Applicators Association". albertaaerialapplicators.com. Retrieved 2021-09-10.
  30. "aerial assets".
  31. Hoyle Flight International 13–19 December 2011, p. 35.
  32. "N.W.T. gov't spends $26M on 8 new Fireboss water bombers". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-03-16.
  33. "Chilean Government acquires modern planes to fight forest fires".
  34. "La Aviación de la Policía Nacional ahora cuenta con aviones bomberos para combatir incendios forestales".
  35. "3 million euro worth Air Tractor arrived at Zemunik". www.zadarskilist.hr. 18 November 2014. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
  36. "AT 802 Fire Boss training commences in Zemunik". Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Croatia. 11 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  37. "Abu Dhabi IDEX Show Highlights Key UAE Developments". ainonline.com. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  38. "The AT-802U has been acquired by the UAE, Jordan, Egypt and Kenya". shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  39. Binnie, Jeremy (22 January 2018). "AT-802 aircraft seen at Egyptian airbase". IHS Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  40. Hoyle Flight International 13–19 December 2011, p. 39.
  41. Niak ke Sayap Pesawat Pengangkut BBM, Jokowi Hampir Jatuh
  42. Egozi, Arie (2011-08-06). "Israel's new firefighting squadron". Flightglobal. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  43. "Israel Firefighting Squadron Acquires More Air Tractor AT-802F Firebombers". Air Tractor News. 2015-08-06. Archived from the original on 2016-12-02. Retrieved 2016-12-01.
  44. טייסת הכיבוי קורקעה בעקבות התרסקות מטוס
  45. Ayton Air International February 2017, p. 33.
  46. Jennings, Gareth (25 January 2018). "Jordan receives first upgraded AT-802 turboprop, five more to follow". IHS Jane's 360. London. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  47. "Jordanian Border Patrol Aircraft in Malta". Air International. Vol. 94, no. 2. February 2018. p. 14. ISSN 0306-5634.
  48. Bożinowski, Igor. Bałkańskie AT-802 gotowe do sezonu, "Skrzydlata Polska" nr 8/2019, p. 47 (in Polish)
  49. "Fogos. Portugal precisa de adquirir quatro aviões Canadair". www.dn.pt (in Portuguese). 12 July 2018. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
  50. Keijsper 2008, pp. 43.
  51. "Flota de Aviones". Avialsa. Archived from the original on 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2011-09-07.
  52. Robin Persson (3 June 2020). "Här är Sveriges nya brandflygplan". SVT Nyheter (in Swedish). SVT. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  53. info@tractionokc.com (2022-08-01). "L3Harris and Air Tractor Team Selected for USSOCOM Armed Overwatch Contract". Air Tractor® AT-802U. Retrieved 2022-08-01.
  54. Binnie, Jeremy (29 October 2015). "Yemeni pilots carry out airstrikes with AT-802 turboprops". IHS Jane's Defence Weekly. Archived from the original on 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-15.
  55. "UAE AT-802 light strike turboprops flying out of Saudi airbase".
  56. Jackson 2003, pp. 509–510.
Bibliography
  • Ayton, Mark. "Archangel: Crop Duster to Tank Buster". Air International, Vol. 92, No. 2, February 2017. pp. 24–33. ISSN 0306-5634.
  • Hoyle, Craig. "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International, 13–19 December 2011. pp. 26–52.
  • Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
  • Keijsper, Gerard. "Water-Bombers Required!" Air Forces Monthly, London: Key Publishing, July 2008 Issue.
  • Simpson, R. W. (1995). Airlife's General Aviation. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 31–32.
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