Manufacturer catalog

Orbital ATK; Cessna

Orbital ATK; Cessna identifies the industrial pairing behind the AC-208 Combat Caravan: a Cessna 208 Caravan utility airframe and the ATK/Orbital ATK armed mission-conversion lineage now represented in Northrop Grumman special-mission aircraft work.

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The AC-208 Combat Caravan combines two separate U.S. aerospace lines. Its baseline aircraft is the Cessna Caravan, a rugged single-engine utility turboprop now marketed through Textron Aviation's Cessna brand for passenger, cargo, utility, and special-mission use.

ATK and later Orbital ATK supplied the armed special-mission conversion lineage that turned the Caravan into an ISR and light-attack aircraft. Northrop Grumman acquired Orbital ATK in 2018, and its current special-mission aircraft materials describe both the AC-208 Armed Caravan and the AC-208 Eliminator configuration.

special mission aircraftarmed ISR aircraftlight attack aircraftutility turboprop aircraftmission-system integration

Notable Systems

AC-208 Combat Caravan, Armed ISR and light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

AC-208 Combat Caravan

Armed ISR and light attack aircraft

Armed ISR and close-air-support aircraft based on the Cessna Caravan, with the special-mission conversion lineage described by Northrop Grumman as the AC-208 Armed Caravan and AC-208 Eliminator family.

Sources: Northrop Grumman Special Mission Aircraft, Cessna Caravan, DSCA Iraq AC-208 Aircraft
AC-208 Combat Caravan, Armed ISR and light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

AC-208 Eliminator

Armed ISR and light attack aircraft

Northrop Grumman presents the Eliminator as an AC-208 Armed Caravan development for reconnaissance, overwatch, and ground-attack missions with guided rockets or AGM-114 Hellfire payload options.

Sources: Northrop Grumman Special Mission Aircraft, Cessna Caravan

Manufacturer History

  1. Cessna all-purpose aircraft flies

    Textron Aviation's Cessna history traces the brand to Wichita and the August 1927 flight of Clyde Cessna's cantilever-wing aircraft.

    Sources: Cessna: A History

  2. Caravan program launched

    Textron Aviation's Caravan anniversary material lists 1981 as the launch year for the Caravan program.

    Sources: Cessna Marks 30th Anniversary of Caravan Utility Aircraft

  3. Orbital ATK formed

    SEC merger materials describe the transaction that combined Orbital with ATK's aerospace and defense businesses and renamed the combined company Orbital ATK, Inc.

    Sources: SEC Orbital-ATK Merger Proxy

  4. Iraq AC-208 sale notified

    DSCA notified Congress of a proposed Iraq package for AC-208 aircraft and related equipment, documenting the Cessna aircraft in Iraqi military operations.

    Sources: DSCA Iraq AC-208 Aircraft

  5. Northrop Grumman completes Orbital ATK acquisition

    Northrop Grumman reports that it completed the Orbital ATK acquisition on June 6, 2018.

    Sources: Northrop Grumman Orbital ATK Acquisition

Predecessors
Cessna Aircraft CompanyAlliant Techsystems aerospace and defense businessesOrbital Sciences Corporation
Successors
Textron AviationNorthrop Grumman Innovation SystemsNorthrop Grumman
Website links
Northrop Grumman Special Mission AircraftCessna CaravanCessna History

Orbital ATK; Cessna is not a single continuing corporate entity. Cessna/Textron Aviation airframe context is kept separate from the ATK/Orbital ATK/Northrop Grumman mission-conversion lineage.

Manufacturer Sources

  • Northrop Grumman Special Mission AircraftPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports the AC-208 Armed Caravan and AC-208 Eliminator lineage, including reconnaissance, ground-attack, guided-rocket, and Hellfire payload context now under Northrop Grumman. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Cessna CaravanPublisher: Textron Aviation | Note: Supports the Cessna Caravan airframe background and utility-turboprop performance context used for the AC-208 airframe lineage. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Cessna: A HistoryPublisher: Textron Aviation | Note: Supports Cessna brand history, Wichita association, and the 1927 Cessna all-purpose aircraft milestone. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Cessna Marks 30th Anniversary of Caravan Utility AircraftPublisher: Textron Aviation | Note: Supports Caravan program milestones including 1981 program launch, 1982 prototype first flight, 1984 FAA certification, and 1985 deliveries. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • SEC Orbital-ATK Merger ProxyPublisher: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | Note: Supports the formation of Orbital ATK from Orbital and ATK aerospace and defense businesses, the Orbital ATK name, and Dulles, Virginia headquarters context. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Northrop Grumman Orbital ATK AcquisitionPublisher: Northrop Grumman | Note: Supports the 2018 Northrop Grumman acquisition of Orbital ATK and successor context for the Orbital ATK side of this manufacturing lineage. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • DSCA Iraq AC-208 AircraftPublisher: Defense Security Cooperation Agency | Note: Supports AC-208 and C-208 aircraft procurement context for Iraq and links the Cessna aircraft family to the Combat Caravan system. | Accessed: 2026-07-11
  • Iraqi Cessna AC-208Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance and reuse: the photo is credited to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Luke Kitterman and marked public domain as a U.S. federal government work; it depicts an AC-208 tied to this manufacturing lineage. | Accessed: 2026-07-11

Produced weapons

Category

Aircraft & UAVs

Crewed aircraft, drones, and loitering munitions.

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AC-208 Combat Caravan, Armed ISR and light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs2013 War in Iraq, 2001 War in AfghanistanAC-208 Combat CaravanArmed ISR and light attack aircraftBuilt in: United StatesThe AC-208 Combat Caravan is an armed Cessna Caravan conversion that combines a rugged single-engine turboprop airframe with electro-optical surveillance, mission-system operator controls, datalinks, and precision strike. Iraq fielded Hellfire-armed AC-208s during the 2013-2017 war against ISIS, while Afghan Air Force AC-208 Eliminators later provided ISR, strike, and laser-designation support during the final phase of the 2001 War in Afghanistan.