Tel Aviv: L3Harris Technologies and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) have announced a new joint project to develop a specialised variant of the L3Harris Sky Warden light-attack and reconnaissance aircraft, tailored for Israel’s needs. The new aircraft will be called the Blue Sky Warden.
According to Israeli sources, the Blue Sky Warden will serve as a light attack and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platform designed specifically for the Israeli Ministry of Defence and the Israeli Air Force.
It will combine L3Harris’s Sky Warden airframe—currently used by US Special Operations Command—with IAI’s advanced mission systems, software, and sensor integration.
If selected by Israel’s Ministry of Defense, the Blue Sky Warden would add a low-cost, high-endurance tactical aircraft complementing advanced jets like the F-35I and F-15IA, while enhancing ISR and close-support capabilities.
Israeli sources said that the aim of this aircraft is to add a “layer” of sensors
Israeli mission systems, cutting-edge software, and operational skills will be included into the aircraft by a collaborative development team.
In collaboration with the Israeli Air Force and the Ministry of Defence, IAI will be in charge of integrating Israeli equipment, carrying out flight testing, obtaining airworthiness certification, and organising operational validation.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
