L3Harris and IAI Jointly Pursue the Israeli Light-Attack Aircraft Program

L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to jointly pursue the Israeli Light-Attack Aircraft program with L3Harris’ Sky Warden™ aircraft.

The collaboration establishes an integrated team that will combine L3Harris’ low-cost, high-endurance Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft with IAI’s proven systems.

As part of the agreement, the L3Harris-IAI team will produce a unique Israeli configuration called Blue Sky Warden. The aircraft will include an IAI open-architecture mission computer to host Israeli-specific software and special capabilities. IAI will also supply and integrate its mission equipment and lead flight tests and airworthiness campaigns with the Ministry of Defense and the Israeli Air Force. 

“We are excited to collaborate on this important program with L3Harris, a long-standing and trusted partner with whom we have successful partnerships on several fronts,” said Boaz Levy, President and CEO, IAI. “By combining IAI’s cutting-edge systems and expertise in mission systems integration with L3Harris’ Sky Warden platform, we are delivering a tailored solution that meets the evolving needs of the Ministry of Defense and Israeli Air Force.”

“This strategic partnership with IAI allows us to provide a tailored variant of our Sky Warden to meet Israel’s operational and industrial needs,” said Jon Rambeau, President, Integrated Mission Systems, L3Harris. “The Sky Warden light-attack aircraft delivers the best-in-class endurance, payload and survivability needed for airborne ISR and other missions.” 

Sky Warden is L3Harris’ designation for the commercial version of the OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft, which the company is producing and delivering to the U.S. Special Operations Command as part of the Skyraider II program.