Aircraft & UAVs

OV-10 Bronco

The OV-10 Bronco is a U.S.-designed twin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft built for short-field counterinsurgency, forward air control, armed reconnaissance, and limited ground attack. Philippine Air Force Broncos remained useful in Marawi because they could deliver bombs in close support of troops fighting through dense urban terrain.

Battle of MarawiPhilippine government forces

Conflict side: Philippine government forces
Built by: North American Rockwell
Built in: United States

OV-10 Bronco, Twin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Image source: Balikatan 2019 - Philippine Air Force's OV-10 Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft

Profile

Type: Twin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft
Conflict side: Philippine government forces
Origin: United States
Service note: Cold War design, Philippine counterinsurgency service through the 2010s and early 2020s

close air support reconnaissance strike

Service History

In service: First production OV-10A ordered in 1966; Philippine Air Force Broncos served in counterinsurgency and close-air-support roles.
Used by: Philippine Air Force, United States Air Force, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy
Wars: Battle of Marawi, Vietnam War, Gulf War

Production History

Designer: North American Aviation
Designed: 1960s
Built by: North American Rockwell
Built in: United States
Produced: 1960s-1980s
Number built: About 360 across all variants
Variants: OV-10A, OV-10C, OV-10D, OV-10M

Specifications

Crew: Two
Armament: Four 7.62 mm M60C machine guns plus up to 3,600 lb of external stores on OV-10A references
Engines: Two Garrett-AiResearch T76 turboprops rated at 715 shaft horsepower each
Maximum speed: 281 mph
Range: 1,240 miles
Service ceiling: 26,000 ft
Dimensions: 40 ft wingspan; 41 ft 7 in length; 15 ft 1 in height
Maximum weight: 14,444 lb

Conflict Usage

Battle of Marawi: Side: Philippine government forcesRole: Close air support and bombing sortiesclose air support strike
Philippine Air Force OV-10 Broncos were used by government forces during the 2017 Battle of Marawi for ground-attack bombing missions against IS-aligned militant targets and strongholds.

OV-10 Bronco Images

OV-10 Bronco, Twin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1 — Source: Balikatan 2019 - Philippine Air Force's OV-10 Light Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft

OV-10 Bronco, Twin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 2 — Source: 2023-05-12 OV-10 Bronco.jpg

OV-10 Bronco, Twin-turboprop light attack and observation aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs - view 3 — Source: North American Rockwell OV-10A Bronco

Related Weapon Systems

AW-109, Light twin-engine attack and utility helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsAW-109Light twin-engine attack and utility helicopterThe AW-109 is a light twin-engine helicopter family built by AgustaWestland, now Leonardo. Armed and utility AW109 variants have been used by the Philippine Air Force for close support at Marawi and by the Nigerian Air Force as Agusta 109 LUH/A109 LUH combat-support aircraft in Operation Lafiya Dole during the Boko Haram Insurgency.

FA-50PH, Supersonic light combat aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsFA-50PHSupersonic light combat aircraftThe FA-50PH is the Philippine Air Force variant of KAI's FA-50 light combat aircraft, a South Korean supersonic jet derived from the T-50 trainer. During the Battle of Marawi, Philippine government forces used FA-50 jets for urban airstrikes and close air support against IS-aligned militants, including missions later scrutinized after a July 2017 friendly-fire incident.

MG-520, Light attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsMG-520Light attack helicopterThe MG-520, also known as the MD-520MG Defender, is a Philippine Air Force light attack helicopter derived from the MD 500E/Defender family. Armed with machine guns and rocket pods, it served as a compact close-air-support platform during the Battle of Marawi, where Philippine government forces used it to support urban ground operations against IS-aligned militants.

SF-260, Trainer and light attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsSF-260Trainer and light attack aircraftThe SF-260 is an Italian trainer and light attack aircraft designed by Stelio Frati and built by SIAI-Marchetti and later Aermacchi/Leonardo. In the Battle of Marawi, Philippine Air Force SF-260s were used as light attack air-support aircraft alongside helicopters, OV-10s, and FA-50s against IS-aligned militant positions in dense urban terrain.

A-29 Super Tucano, Turboprop light attack and armed reconnaissance aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsA-29 Super TucanoTurboprop light attack and armed reconnaissance aircraftThe A-29 Super Tucano is a Brazilian-designed turboprop light attack aircraft used by the Nigerian Air Force for counter-insurgency missions, combining armed reconnaissance, close air support, and precision air-to-ground strike capability against Boko Haram and ISWAP targets.

AC-130 gunship, Heavily armed fixed-wing gunship, Aircraft & UAVs

Aircraft & UAVsAC-130 gunshipHeavily armed fixed-wing gunshipThe AC-130 gunship is a side-firing U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command attack aircraft family derived from the C-130 Hercules. Modern AC-130U, AC-130W, and AC-130J variants combine sensors, fire-control systems, cannon armament, and precision-guided munitions for close air support, armed reconnaissance, air interdiction, and overwatch, roles documented in Afghanistan during Operation Freedom's Sentinel, Resolute Support, and the Kabul evacuation.

Sources

North American Rockwell OV-10A BroncoPublisher: National Museum of the United States Air Force | Note: Supports OV-10A background, mission set, manufacturer context, and technical specifications. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 PH Air Force to get 4 more OV-10 bombersPublisher: Philippine News Agency | Note: Supports Battle of Marawi direct use: OV-10 Broncos were used by Philippine government forces in Marawi and extensively used in attacking terrorist targets and strongholds during the campaign. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Philippines launches offensive in Marawi, with aim to end battle by weekendPublisher: ABS-CBN News / Reuters | Note: Supports Battle of Marawi direct use: Reuters caption documents an OV-10 Bronco used by Philippine government forces releasing a bomb during an airstrike in Marawi. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Balikatan 2019 - Philippine Air Force's OV-10 Light Armed Reconnaissance AircraftPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Philippine Air Force OV-10; file page identifies a U.S. Army photo from DVIDS and public-domain status. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 Balikatan 2019: Philippine Air Force's OV-10 Light Armed Reconnaissance AircraftPublisher: Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Image provenance for a Philippine Air Force OV-10 at Clark Air Base; DVIDS lists the U.S. Army image as public domain. | Accessed: 2026-06-21 2023-05-12 OV-10 Bronco.jpgPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Image provenance for a Philippine Air Force OV-10 display aircraft; file page lists the image under CC BY-SA 4.0. | Accessed: 2026-06-21