By Marina Malenic
The Air Force is expected to award a light-attack aircraft contract this summer that would soon after provide a new fleet to the nascent Afghan air force.
Declared bidders for the Light Air Support (LAS) program contract are Hawker Beechcraft with its AT-6 and a Sierra Nevada–Embraer team with Brazil-based Embraer’s Super Tucano. In a January competitive fly-off at Kirtland AFB, N.M., each aircraft flew three sorties to demonstrate the sensor capability and simulated weapon deployment; operation from an unprepared runway; and suitability for training. A contract award is expected in June or July.
When the Air Force in 2009 released the its first request for information for the Light Attack Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR) program, industry responded with products such as the armed Air Tractor AT-802U and Boeing‘s [BA] modernized OV-10. At that time, there was talk of the Air Force, as well as Navy special operations forces, purchasing their own fleets of LAAR aircraft as part of designated irregular-warfare units. That plan has since evolved into the concept of acquiring small fleets with which to train partner nations. To that end, a little over $150 million was requested for a LAS program in the Air Force’s Fiscal 2012 budget (Defense Daily, Feb. 15).
The Navy had been pursuing a classified effort called Imminent Fury. The sea service selected the Super Tucano to demonstrate a close air support capability for its special forces. In 2008, it leased a Super Tucano to develop tactics, techniques and procedures. However, Congress refused to fund the program, citing duplication of efforts between the services.
According to the LAS request for proposals released October 2010, the Air Force will purchase 20 aircraft for delivery to the Afghan air force beginning in 2013, plus another 15 for the Air Force to use in “building partner capability.” The Air Force says it wants to acquire, at most, 55 aircraft at a maximum price tag of $950 million.
Bidders are also expected to provide training and logistics support as part of the package. Hawker Beechcraft plans to provide AT-6 training in Salina, Kan., while Sierra Nevada would provide Super Tucano training at Clovis, N.M., near Cannon AFB.
The Super Tucano was specifically designed for the Brazilian air force’s light-attack/advanced-trainer requirement.
“This airplane was built for (counterinsurgency) and operations in an austere environment,” said Gary Spulak, president of Embraer Aircraft Holding, Inc., which is Embraer’s wholly owned U.S. subsidiary. “What the Air Force is looking for is exactly what the Super Tucano was designed for.”
The Super Tucano as currently configured already carries two .50-cal machine guns. In an April 20 telephone interview with Defense Daily, Spulak noted that development for the Air Force’s requirement would be minimal.
Embraer has already delivered 152 Super Tucanos. An additional 28 orders are to be filled by the end of next year. In addition to Brazil, aircraft have been sold to Chile, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Indonesia and an undisclosed African customer, according to an Embraer fact sheet.