Guest one Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 Do you think we will get the A-29 in time to use them in Afghanistan?
tac airlifter Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 Looks like the Super T won the competition, https://www.bizjourna...t-to-build.html Thanks for posting that. Interesting they went w/ the Super T, the USN had been flying them but decided not to buy for operational usage and went with OV-10's. Wonder what the behind the scenes reasoning was.
db84 Posted December 31, 2011 Posted December 31, 2011 Anybody heard rumors on how the program is going to work? I've heard 2 different things 1. that we were going to use them like the 6 SOS to help train partner nations or 2. That the light attack would serve as a regular squadron performing CAS. Anybody hearing anything since the contract is moving along?
Homestar Posted January 1, 2012 Posted January 1, 2012 Are these to be given to the Afghan Air Force or retained by the U.S. Air Force?
Prosuper Posted January 1, 2012 Posted January 1, 2012 .50 cals internally mounted, you had me at hello. I'm going to speculate that there is already a American cadre of pilots who have flown this acft in combat. Plus R&D and operational know how a known fact so it saves money and gets fielded quickly. About as off the shelf as we are going to get. Now put a AR drogue probe on it it gives us on station time.AT-6 too many unknowns (cost overruns) plus do they have that PT6 engine shaft problem sorted out, hate to see that happen at takeoff with full ordinance. Ehh! the lawyers are going to ###### it up anyhow.
hobbitcid Posted January 1, 2012 Posted January 1, 2012 I recently attended the IQPC Air Power for Irregular Warfare Conference and one of the speakers was a Super Tucano pilot from the Brazilian AF. The aircraft already has an impressive record, flying COIN and "ISR" operations for a number of South American Air Forces. The AT-6 was also briefed but by a company rep. The capabilities were similar but the aircraft still has to go beyond the prototype stage. If the USAF wants a ready aircraft, straight from factory to the line without all of the R&D and associated cost overruns, the Super Tucano is the go to weapons system. More importantly, there may be some quid pro quo involved with Brazil and Embraer, especially since the Brazilian AF is looking at the F/A-18, Gripen and Rafael for its next generation Air Defense Fighter. Buying a fair number of Super Tucanos could provide a significant offset against a Brazilian F/A-18 order.
theat6bisasham Posted January 2, 2012 Posted January 2, 2012 Much better article https://defensetech.org/2011/12/31/embraer-wins-usafs-light-attack-contest/ Also, it seems the training will take place in "Clovis, NM" seems appropriate...now where is the afpc robot when you need it..
HU&W Posted January 2, 2012 Posted January 2, 2012 Much better article https://defensetech.o...attack-contest/ Also, it seems the training will take place in "Clovis, NM" seems appropriate...now where is the afpc robot when you need it.. Love the comments on this article. Total ignorance. So, Clovis NM. Does this mean the plane's going to AFSOC? Or is it just another example of pork barrel politics.
Guest CAVEMAN Posted January 2, 2012 Posted January 2, 2012 Love the comments on this article. Total ignorance. So, Clovis NM. Does this mean the plane's going to AFSOC? Or is it just another example of pork barrel politics. Most likely AFSOC.
Guest Posted January 2, 2012 Posted January 2, 2012 Love the comments on this article. Total ignorance. I agree. But you have to admit, that's what it is like around here sometimes.
IDALPHA Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Plot thickens: https://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=8751302&c=AIR&s=TOP
Guest CAVEMAN Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Plot thickens: https://www.defensene...302&c=AIR&s=TOP We all saw it coming. Waste of time.
StoleIt Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 $355 million? For 20 fucking planes? $17,750,000 each?! A T-6 costs under $5 million each. WTF?! Are we buying fighter jets or CHEAP CAS platforms? Seriously?!
Ramathorn Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 $355 million? For 20 ######ing planes? $17,750,000 each?! A T-6 costs under $5 million each. WTF?! Are we buying fighter jets or CHEAP CAS platforms? Seriously?! Maybe they have lasers.
HiFlyer Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 (edited) Maybe they have lasers. Normally, acquisition contracts like this (first time buy of a developed foreign product) cover more than just the aircraft, so dividing the cantract amount by the airplane numbers is misleading. I'm sure there's a chunk of spare parts included (normally several years worth), vartious types of aircraft specific ground equipment, engineering support and tech rep services, pubs development to USAF standards, initial training services for ground crews and maintenance people, etc. That all adds up on the first contract. I suspect that a follow-on buy would show a much lower aircraft cost the second time around, as all that other stuff would be contracted via separate methods. While the AT-6 may be advertised (by the builder) at a lower cost, that cost probably is the airframe cost, not including all the extra stuff. Edited January 5, 2012 by HiFlyer
DEVIL Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 (edited) So if this is going to be CAS, and not that quick, are they planning on throwing some armor in there too? How much weight can you REALLY put on an (A)T-6 or ST and expect performance??? Edit: more or less rhetorical, just my first thought. Seeing T-6's (and by extension ST's) flying around at low level look like pretty good targets for ground fire. Edited January 5, 2012 by GoCanes7
db84 Posted January 5, 2012 Posted January 5, 2012 Seeing T-6's (and by extension ST's) flying around at low level look like pretty good targets for ground fire. While ground fire is obviously a big concern, lots of aircraft fly low and slow without too much of a problem. The super tucano should be able to stay high enough to keep out of RPG/HMG/small arms range, and defensive equipment against MANPADS won't weigh much or cost much. Even if you forego a MWS and just put flares on board to save money and weight the odds of a talib taking a well aimed shot with a functioning MANPADS are pretty slim. I'd say reward (solid low cost CAS/ISR platform) outweigh the risk.
Day Man Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Even if you forego a MWS and just put flares on board Que?
hindsight2020 Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 welcome to FOB Cannon. Word. They oughta give remote tour credit to that chithole
db84 Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) Que? MWS = Missile Warning System like the AAR-54 which can be used to slew a jammer or automatically dispense flares. To keep costs down you could leave out the MWS and just have a bucket or two of flares dispensed manually. edit - grammar. Edited January 6, 2012 by db84
Champ Kind Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 I think we are rapidly approaching a subject not appropriate for a public Internet forum, gents. 1
Guest Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 super tucano should be able to stay high enough to keep out of RPG/HMG/small arms range, and defensive equipment against MANPADS won't weigh much or cost much. Even if you forego a MWS and just put flares on board to save money and weight the odds of a talib taking a well aimed shot with a functioning MANPADS are pretty slim. Wrong. If we're just handing them over to the Afghans, then fine.
DEVIL Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 (edited) Wrong. If we're just handing them over to the Afghans, then fine. 2. Don't get me wrong, I think it'd be fun to operate, but it doesn't take a dummy to point an MG above the horizon and track an incoming target...at least the 'hog has two motors. Edit: or I might be giving the bad guys too much credit. Edited January 6, 2012 by GoCanes7
busdriver Posted January 6, 2012 Posted January 6, 2012 Pretty sure he was talking about the MWS not the turboprop concept.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now