Purple Wolf Cruise Missile Eyed To Give OA-1K Skyraider II Standoff Strike Functionality

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L3Harris has highlighted the potential advantages of pairing its Purple Wolf miniature cruise missile with the U.S. Air Pressure’s OA-1K Skyraider II . Standoff munitions like Purple Wolf might assist the OA-1K, initially designed for shut air help and surveillance and reconnaissance in help of low-intensity operations, discover a function in future high-end conflicts , however questions in regards to the worth of doing so stay. The U.S. Marine Corps is already buying the Purple Wolf to offer a boost in capability for its AH-1Z Viper assault helicopters for the same general reasons .

L3Harris announced today that it had proven “the power to combine” Purple Wolf on its Sky Warden plane. The Sky Warden relies on the Air Tractor AT-802 single-engine turboprop crop duster. In 2022, the Air Pressure declared the two-seat Sky Warden the winner of its Armed Overwatch competition , subsequently giving the aircraft the designation OA-1K and the official nickname Skyraider II . The Air Pressure is planning to ultimately purchase 75 OA-1Ks, which shall be operated by items underneath the umbrella of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).

<img decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" loading="lazy" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6467306" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=50&h=28 50w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=280&h=158 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=289&h=163 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=300&h=169 300w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=308&h=173 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=370&h=208 370w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=384&h=216 384w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=580&h=326 580w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=660&h=371 660w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=704&h=396 704w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=711&h=400 711w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg?w=768&h=432 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/oa-1k-skyraider.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/> A U.S. Air Pressure OA-1K Skyraider II. USAF

L3Harris formally unveiled Purple Wolf, in addition to the companion Inexperienced Wolf (fitted with an digital warfare payload as an alternative of a high-explosive warhead), final July. Nevertheless, the event of the “Wolf” family of systems dates again to 2020.

“Our prospects demand a lean, agile plane that may fly, take off and land anyplace, anytime, outfitted with a variety of payloads,” Jason Lambert, President for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, House and Mission Methods at L3Harris, mentioned in a press release immediately. “Bringing collectively Purple Wolf and Sky Warden demonstrates the speedy reconfiguration and customization of key L3Harris capabilities.”

The OA-1K can carry as much as 6,000 kilos of munitions and different shops on as many as eight pylons, 4 underneath every wing. L3Harris has additionally mentioned previously that plane has a “strong suite of radios and datalinks offering a number of means for line-of-sight (LOS) and past line-of-sight (BLOS) communications.”

OA-1K Skyraider II Stroll-Round Tour With Its Check Pilot

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nKCBO8hfFw[/embed]

Including Purple Wolf to the Skyraider II’s arsenal would flip the plane into a real standoff weapons supply platform. This, in flip, would assist preserve the plane additional away from potential threats, decreasing the danger to the crew.

The members of the “Wolf” household are all within the 250-pound class. They've a missile-like core design, powered by a small turbojet, and with a minimum of a level of low-observability (stealthiness). They're within the 250-pound weight class. “Their endurance has been confirmed in flight testing, demonstrating excessive subsonic speeds – 200+ nautical mile vary at low altitudes and 60+ minutes length,” per L3Harris .

<img decoding="async" width="816" height="615" loading="lazy" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=816" alt="" class="wp-image-6458352" style="width:815px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=50&h=38 50w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=280&h=211 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=287&h=216 287w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=289&h=218 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=300&h=226 300w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=308&h=232 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=370&h=279 370w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=525&h=396 525w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=531&h=400 531w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=536&h=404 536w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=660&h=497 660w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg?w=768&h=579 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/red-wolf-green-wolf-side-by-side.jpg 816w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 816px) 100vw, 816px"/> Facet-by-side renderings of the Purple Wolf and Inexperienced Wolf, exhibiting them to be functionally equivalent, a minimum of externally. L3Harris

Particulars about how Purple Wolf or Inexperienced Wolf are guided are restricted, however L3Harris says they're able to “autonomous over-the-horizon engagements.” The Marine Corps, in cooperation with the U.S. Navy, has used tablet-based control systems as a part of the engagement course of in previous testing of Purple Wolf.

L3Harris has additionally talked previously about how members of the Wolf household might work collectively. The Inexperienced Wolves might assist find targets, particularly hostile air protection property, by zeroing in on their sign emissions, in addition to clear a path for Purple Wolves to truly strike them.

<img decoding="async" width="984" height="529" loading="lazy" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=984" alt="" class="wp-image-6458362" style="width:984px;height:auto" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=50&h=27 50w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=280&h=151 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=289&h=155 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=300&h=161 300w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=308&h=166 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=370&h=199 370w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=402&h=216 402w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=580&h=312 580w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=660&h=355 660w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=704&h=378 704w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=744&h=400 744w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg?w=768&h=413 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/wolf-ground-mission-scenario.jpg 984w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 984px) 100vw, 984px"/> A graphical rendering of a notional idea of overland operations involving the employment of Purple Wolf and Inexperienced Wolf methods. L3Harris has additionally proven comparable ideas to be used of the Wolf household in help of maritime missions and expeditionary operations in a littoral context. L3Harris

Purple Wolf or Inexperienced Wolf are additionally solely the beginning of what L3Harris hopes to be a bigger household of configurations primarily based across the central design. Not less than one Purple Wolf was reportedly employed on the U.S. Military’s Experimentation Demonstration Gateway Event in 2021 (EDGE 21) configured as an airborne sign relay node quite than a munition.

“We will alter the scale of the warhead, the gasoline tank, we are able to even put a parachute on the again of it, and we have now,” Matthew “Guicci” Klunder, Vice President for Enterprise Improvement at L3Harris, mentioned in a promotional video launched final 12 months, seen beneath. “It may be a kinetic impact, it may very well be a non-kinetic impact, it might even be a decoy.”

Meet the “Wolf Pack”

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYag3ZcDnaQ[/embed]

Altering the scale of the warhead would have impacts on vary and endurance, in addition to the terminal impact on the goal. This additionally opens up the potential for becoming various kinds of warheads, together with ones with elevated penetrating functionality. A parachute system would enable for restoration and, by extension, potential reuse.

Total, L3Harris describes the “Wolf” household collectively as “launched results autos.” The U.S. army makes use of the time period “launched impact” to confer with a broad swatch of uncrewed aerial methods that may be deployed from platforms within the air, on the bottom, and at sea, and that may be configured as one-way attackers or to carry out different missions. The Wolf household is simply one of a growing number of modular, comparatively low cost, and small methods that fall underneath that broad umbrella. Lots of them more and more blur the line between uncrewed aerial methods, particularly longer-range kamikaze drones, and cruise missiles , in addition to decoys.

As talked about, simply integrating Purple Wolf onto the OA-1K would give it a standoff strike functionality it at present doesn't have. Including Inexperienced Wolf to the combo would additional develop its functionality, together with including a priceless, if not probably crucial, method to suppress hostile air defenses which may immediately pop up.

<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" height="622" width="1024" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-6492905" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=50&h=30 50w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=280&h=170 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=289&h=176 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=300&h=182 300w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=308&h=187 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=356&h=216 356w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=370&h=225 370w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=580&h=352 580w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=652&h=396 652w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=659&h=400 659w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=660&h=401 660w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=768&h=466 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/oa-1k-dirt-airstrip.jpg?w=1024&h=622 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/> An OA-1K seen working from a dust discipline throughout developmental testing. USAF

Typically, standoff capabilities for the Skyraider II might open up necessary new avenues to using the plane within the context of future large-scale conflicts, together with across the broad expanses of the Pacific . When the Air Pressure first initiated the Armed Overwatch program, U.S. army operations globally have been outlined by counter-terrorism operations in nations like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria with completely permissive airspace. By the point the choice was made to accumulate the OA-1Ks, a shift was underway throughout the U.S. army to reorient towards getting ready for high-end fights.

“How might we help them [friendly forces] if it’s within the Pacific or anyplace else? The OA-1K definitely has some roles and missions that may [provide] help there. After which in a large-scale fight operation, we're taking a look at, in partnership with different parts of SOCOM [U.S. Special Operations Command], what are among the issues that it might do,” a high-ranking Air Pressure official told TWZ in an interview last year . “Can it make use of air-launched results, at vary, at standoff, in a versatile method that would offer worth?”

“The great thing about the OA-1K is that it’s modular, it’s adaptable, and for a comparatively small plane can carry a number of payload. And so in an ideal world, in a resource-unconstrained world, I need to have the ability to have as massive a menu as potential of issues that I might cling from a hardpoint on there, or connect as a sensor,” Air Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, head of AFSOC, also told TWZ later in the year on the sidelines of Air & House Forces Affiliation’s most important annual ocnference. “I’d love to have the ability to use long-range standoff mission munitions on a number of airframes.”

Conley was responding to a query particularly about integrating Black Arrow , also referred to as the Small Cruise Missile (SCM), onto the Skyraider II. Leidos is growing Black Arrow for AFSOC now, however primarily as a brand new standoff functionality for the AC-130J Ghostrider gunship . Questions have additionally been raised about how to make sure the future relevance of the Air Force’s AC-130 fleets in high-end fights.

Leidos completes profitable check launch of a Small Cruise Missile

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g38_Uogaa44[/embed]

On the similar time, precisely how nice the profit can be to creating the OA-1K right into a standoff shooter is a matter of debate. A key profit the Skyraider II gives is its capability to function with a very small logistical footprint from far-flung locales, together with ones which are very austere and near and even inside contested areas. As such, an OA-1K would be capable to launch munitions just like the Purple Wolf from inside the enemy’s personal weapon engagement zones or from different shock vectors, and fly low and sluggish to actually keep out of the gaze of distant radars.

On the similar time, the OA-1K’s vary and velocity are restricted, with the plane mentioned to have a fight radius of roughly 200 miles with six hours of loitering time as soon as arriving on station. The Skyraider II’s capability to outlive in a extremely contested areas, even with a standoff functionality like that provided by Purple Wolf, can also be questionable at finest.

OA-1Ks might nonetheless present helpful help throughout a high-end combat, however in areas additional away from hostile threats. As TWZ has pointed out in the past , in a Pacific situation, the plane might present drive safety and surveillance on a localized degree round ahead working areas, together with island outposts.

AFSOC’s Conley, amongst others, has additionally careworn previously that AFSOC will still continue to be called upon to conduct lower-intensity missions that require the sorts of capabilities that the OA-1K was initially designed for, as nicely.

Regardless, the market area for munitions like Purple Wolf and Black Arrow is steadily rising, and consists of many different designs already which may additionally discover their method onto the OA-1K, in addition to different platforms within the air, floor, and maritime domains.

Purple Wolf does have the extra good thing about already being elsewhere within the U.S. army ecosystem. As famous, the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Military have been testing it in recent years . In January, L3Harris announced that the Marine Corps (by the use of the Division of the U.S. Navy) had chosen Purple Wolf for its Precision Attack Strike Munition (PSAM) requirement for a brand new air-launched standoff weapon primarily to arm the AH-1Z Viper assault helicopter. The Marines have been dealing with their very own questions on methods to preserve the AH-1Z, in addition to the companion UH-1Y Venom armed utility helicopter, relevant in future high-end fights .

<img decoding="async" width="800" height="533" loading="lazy" src="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?strip=all&quality=85&w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-6492912" srcset="https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=50&h=33 50w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=280&h=187 280w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=289&h=193 289w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=300&h=200 300w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=308&h=205 308w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=324&h=216 324w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=370&h=247 370w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=580&h=386 580w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=594&h=396 594w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=600&h=400 600w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=660&h=440 660w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg?w=768&h=512 768w, https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/ah-1z-red-wolf.jpg 800w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"/> A US Marine Corps AH-1Z carrying a Purple Wolf underneath every of its stub wings seen throughout a check in 2025. USMC

Additional orders for various members of the Wolf household from different branches of the U.S. army, and probably international operators, may very well be advantageous with regards to sharing the fee burden and driving down unit costs via economies of scale. There may very well be interoperability and different operational advantages from a number of providers working variations of the identical platform, as nicely.

Whether or not Purple Wolf or Inexperienced Wolf in the end turn out to be a part of the OA-1K’s arsenal, the demand for launched results like this solely seems to be set to develop throughout the U.S. army and globally. For the Skyraider II, some combination of standoff capabilities more and more seems to be to be within the aircraft’s future to develop its relevance past lower-intensity conflicts.

Contact the writer: joe@twz.com

Joseph has been a member of The Conflict Zone crew since early 2017. Previous to that, he was an Affiliate Editor at Conflict Is Boring, and his byline has appeared in different publications, together with Small Arms Evaluate , Small Arms Protection Journal , Reuters , We Are the Mighty , and Activity & Function .