Super Tucano Selected for the U.S. Air Force Light Air Support Mission
The U.S. Air Force announced that it has selected the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano for the Light Air Support (LAS) program. The aircraft will be supplied in partnership with Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) as the prime contractor. Other major subcontractors are FLIR Systems and Elbit Systems of America. The air force awarded SNC a firm-fixed price delivery order contract in the amount of $355 million for the initial 20 aircraft and associated support destined to equip the new Afghan Air Force. The aircraft will be used to conduct advanced flight training, aerial reconnaissance and light air support operations by partner nations including Afghanistan. The amount also covers training devices for pilot and maintenance training, as well as support equipment.
Following the Air Force decision, Hawker Beechcraft, which lost the bid with its AT-6 moved to block the Air Force contract process, filing a lawsuit at the Court of Federal Claims over its exclusion from the bidding process. The court ruling for a temporary restraining order is expected next week (Jan. 11, 2012), leading the U.S. Air Force to issue a stop-work order on January 4, 2011.
The U.S. Air Force selects A-29 Super Tucano for the Light Attack Aircraft Program. Photo: Embraer
Planning to field the first LAS aircraft in 2013, before the planned withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Air Force was seeking a non-developmental solution for the LAS mission, one that provides the versatility, engagement, and persistence that the warfighter needs in a counterinsurgency environment, at a significantly lower cost than fighter jets. The A-29 Super Tucano built specifically for counterinsurgency missions is already operating with five air forces. Over 150 A-29s are now in operation around the world have logged over 130,000 flight hours, including more than 18,000 combat hours without any combat loss.
The aircraft is built to operate from and operate in extremely rugged terrain and austere conditions, providing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support in addition to the light attack role, delivering a wide variety of munitions including precision guided weapons.
The A-29 Super Tucano will be built in the new production facility in Jacksonville FL. The company will also supply the ground training devices (GTD) – simulators and planning stations; and spare parts. Training operations will be provided in Clovis, NM. SNC will provide in-field logistic support and pilot and maintenance training. More than 70 U.S. suppliers in 21 states will supply parts or services for this contract.
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at 23:37
Light support aircraft are part of the future of the future of the global fighter plane industry.
In future I think that as jets get more expensive and complicated we will find ourselves in a situation where poor countries and those where the chances of war breaking out are very low will opt for this kind of plane and go for quantity rather than high performance.
The countries who want modern air forces will buy the likes of F35 so we will have a two tier market.
Its also a good option for countries where it might be hard to get Congressional approval for the sale of a jet because of international politics.
Congress would find it much easier to give the go ahead for a plane like this and so it increases the chances of a sale and means the country whose request for an American jet is turned down doesn’t just go buy from Russia or Europe because they are the only other options.