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Evo, ali nemas nista specijalno
+ TekstSierra Nevada/Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano and Textron Aviation’s AT-6B Wolverine are facing off over the sands of Holloman AFB, New Mexico, for the second phase of the U.S. Air Force’s Light Attack Experiment.
Over the next three months, pilots will fly the Super Tucano and AT-6B in a second evaluation designed to gather additional information about the aircraft’s capabilities in a light attack role, as well as interoperability with partner nations, the Air Force says. The event kicked off May 7.
The first phase took place in August 2017 at Holloman AFB, with four models of light attack aircraft, including the A-29 and AT-6 as well as Textron’s Scorpion jet and L-3-Air Tractor’s AT-802L Longsword. The goal of the high-profile experiment was to evaluate the four off-the-shelf aircraft for the light-attack counterterrorism mission ahead of a potential procurement.
Now the Air Force is taking the next step toward possibly buying a fleet of 100 aircraft or more to fight terrorists in the Middle East.
“This second phase of experimentation is about informing the rapid procurement process as we move closer to investing in light attack,” Lt. Gen. Arnie Bunch, the service’s top uniformed acquisition official, said in a statement. “If we can get light attack aircraft operating in permissive combat environments, we can alleviate the demand on our 4th and 5th generation aircraft, so they can be training for the high-end fight they were made for.”
Once this phase is completed, the Air Force plans to release a request for proposals for a light attack aircraft capability in the fall, according to an official with knowledge of the discussions. A contract award is expected six months later, the official said.
During the experiment, pilots will fly both night and day missions in air interdiction, close air support, armed overwatch, and combat search and rescue. Maintainers will focus on flight line and in-shop maintenance to inform sustainment and product support requirements.
The second phase will fill in some of the gaps remaining from the first experiment. It will also add a logistics evaluation to assess ground support and life cycle cost of the aircraft, Taco Gilbert, Sierra Nevada Corporation senior vice president, told reporters May 14. This event will involve demonstrations of more extensive maintenance practices, including engine replacement and servicing the ejection seat.
From a logistics perspective, the A-29 “performed beautifully” during the previous experiment, flying twice a day for almost three months straight. The team did not lose a single sortie due to logistics problems, Gilbert said.
“That speaks very highly to the life cycle cost of the aircraft,” Gilbert said.
The second phase will also focus on networking and interoperability with both U.S. and allied aircraft, as well as ground forces engaged in combat, Gilbert said. The aircraft will be required to demonstrate the ability to use a new international data link, he noted.
Both industry teams are participating in the experiment under Other Transaction Authority contract vehicles, which allows the Air Force and vendors to share the costs.
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