US military eyes Textron’s AT-6 Wolverine light aircraft as drone hunter
October 27, 2025
Textron is joining the race to provide the US military Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System (C-UAS) solutions, including adapting light turboprop aircraft into drone hunters.
Textron considering a drone hunter variant of AT-6 Wolverine
According to reporting by TurDef, Textron is planning to refine the concept of “using cheap and rugged propeller-driven aircraft” to defend against “waves of long-range kamikaze UAVs.” To that end, Textron is looking to adapt the AT-6 Wolverine trainer/light attack turboprop aircraft.
The AT-6 Wolverine is a derivative of the T-6 Texan II trainer and Sierra Nevada/Embraer A-29 Super Tucano. Light aircraft come with a range of advantages over fast jets in a counter-drone role, including lower costs, more flexibility over which airstrips they can operate, and availability.
The TurDef says Textron intends to produce counter-UAS light aircraft with military-standard avionics, sensors, and the ability to carry weapons.
Textron is pitching the AT-6 Wolverine as a dedicated interceptor for drones. pic.twitter.com/Nj8vbx8WR0
— International Defence Analysis (@Defence_IDA) October 25, 2025
The most obvious weapons for these C-UAS aircraft would be machine gun pods and AGR-20A APKWS II laser-guided rockets. TurDef also postulated that Tetron could integrate AGM-179 JAGM air-to-surface missiles. That missile is the successor to the AGM-114 Hellfire missile and comes with the ability to hit drones as well as armoured ground targets.
US military scrambling for counter-drone solutions
In 2025, the US Air Force responded to the proliferating drone threats in the Middle East by urgently integrating GR-20A APKWS II laser-guided rockets onto its F-16s, F-15Es, and A-10s. The move went a long way to addressing the cost imbalance between interceptor missiles and drones while also significantly boosting the fighter jets’ payload.
The US military is rushing the development of scores of potential counter-drone solutions. These range from electronic warfare to lasers to computer-directed old-fashioned flak fire to various light aircraft configured as drone hunters.
Another potential counter-drone Textron aircraft could be its iconic Air Tractor AT-802/AT-802U Sky Warden. The Air Tractor is best known as a crop duster.
In partnership w/ @airtractorinc, we’ve delivered the first OA-1K Skyraider II for @AFSpecOpsCmd. The Skyraider II brings advanced capabilities in close air support, precision strike & armed ISR for special ops personnel. https://t.co/GQjxCAka4X pic.twitter.com/nIg248LcVy
— L3Harris (@L3HarrisTech) April 3, 2025
A militarised variant of the Air Tractor (designated the OA-1K Skyraider II) is being procured by the USAF as a multi-mission ISR and light-strike aircraft. But it’s unclear if there are moves to give it an explicit drone-hunting role. In 2022, the USAF contracted to purchase 75 of these aircraft by 2029 for its special forces.
Ukraine and Russia are using light aircraft as drone hunters
The development follows Ukraine and Russia, both scrambling to adapt propeller-driven aircraft to counter masses of cheap drones. These improvised C-UAS aircraft are armed with machine guns or air-to-air missiles.
The C-UAS role of the Yak-52 started crudely, with the passenger carrying a machine gun. As the war progresses, more counter-drone platforms are emerging with more targeting, firing, and tracking capabilities.
Ukraine was first seen using a propeller-driven Yak-52 trainer to shoot down Russian drones, with Russia following more recently.
Recently, two Russian light aircraft used for drone hunting were destroyed in a Ukrainian UAV attack on Korsak Airfield in Pryazovske, Zaporizhia Oblast. pic.twitter.com/04poJnZXLL
— The Military Watch (@MarcinRogowsk14) October 21, 2025
In addition, Russia is adapting civil Cessna aircraft to shoot down Ukrainian drones by mounting machine guns on them. After these aircraft were reported on Russian state TV, Ukraine released images of them destroying them on the ground at an airfield.
Ukraine has also adapted ageing Antonov An-28 (NATO ‘Cash’) light turboprops as drone hunters.
Separately, Bell Textron has signed a Letter of Intent to supply Ukraine with AH-1Z and UH-1Y helicopters. Ukraine has enjoyed significant success using its Soviet-era helicopters in a counter-drone role.
Featured Image: Textron Aviation Defence
