The A-29 Super Tucano has been selected for the USAF light air support mission. It outpaced the competition because it already existed with proven, mission relevant configurations.
More here.
* Advanced avionics
* Exceptionally accurate non-precision and precision weapons employment
* All-glass, 4th-generation cockpit
* Certified to withstand bird strikes
* Cockpit design & technology similar to fourth-generation fighters
* Fully NVG compatible
* HOTAS: Hands On Throttle And Stick
* Main equipment redundancy
* Precise Navigation System, with integrated auto-pilot, INS/GPS and radio navigation
* V/UHF radios with crypto and Datalink
* ROVER- and Link 16-capable
o Have integrated seven different datalinks
* Digital Video Recorder for fast and precise debriefing
* Long, wide wheelbase to enable routine rough and austere field operation
* Sensor ball placed to eliminate wing masking
10 comments:
Wow, finally they got their 'Dragonfly II'!
Because of it's lower cruise speed & many times longer loiter time,
it will be more effective & much more efficient than (high) subsonic fighter-bombers.
Teenfighters are flying now COIN sorties at a hefty price.
Operational costs per flight hour:
F-15E: USD 36.633 (CY 2010)
F-16C: USD 19.087
A-10A: USD 24.102
Super Tucano: approx USD 1.000 (2010) per hour, direct operating costs.
Direct operating cost of a F-16C = USD 7.750 (2010).
Locum,
Thanks for the cost data.
Do you have any idea of the survivability features of the Tucano in this role please?
Cheers
Ely.
ELY
Thats what I wonder about, you cant tell me that it can match the teen series for its escape zone or the a10 survivability. Personally I'd like to have a plane and pilot left after a sortie. Just because the air environment has been cleaned doesn't that there aren't hostiles on the ground firing back. Even so it would be nice in Canada to get in sync with the states on this, maybe replacing our Harvard II's and demo team. I've always wondered if the Hawk would be the way to go at least you have slightly faster escape speeds if needed although I think it would be best to bring all those a10 back out of storage
Suffolkowner,
I am thinking the same way. But vulnerability and survivability must have been thought through. As you know there is a fair amount of smart stuff you can do without causing a great deal of weight increase (in theory).Maybe it is back to sitting on a hub cap like the old days! Bet its fun to drive.
Regards
Ely
The Super Tucano has Chaff/Flares, low emission of heat and it can land in a highway of sand.
He could land in a small area and to do a ransom.
The Super Tucano has Chaff/Flares, low emission of heat and it can land in a highway of sand.
He could land in a small area and to do a ransom.
Could also do some great shopping with that thing on a cross-country without the back-seater and some certified baggage tanks. Gets into more airfields.
The Super Tucano is not a trainer turned into a light attack plane.
When the Tucano was on the drawing board, it's designers were then already paying attention to the light attack mission of this plane.
Main equipment is redundant. The quite heavy airframe can withstand Ma Deuce (.50cal) hits without problems. The Tucano does have armour. A high cruise speed is not neccessary for survival, the SuperTucano cruises during a COIN sortie with a typically speed of 120 kts / 222 km/h. More important is enough agility.
US SOCOM has seen the (Super) Tucano in action over Colombia.
And they liked what they saw.
The also slow Hog is popular with ground troops. But the Hog is lacking persistence ( long loiter time). In Vietnam the average A-1 Skyraider sortie was 4 hours. With its max. endurance of 6,5 hours, this is no problem for the Super Tucano.
It's not that I'm against the idea, in fact I think its a good one I just wonder about the risks in a non permisive environment where they are facing more the 50 cal. I think that in a lot of ways we have been lucky in Iraq/Afganistan in that the opposistion on the ground did not have the support that the US gave the Afgans against the Soviets. I think up here in CAN we should follow suit I particularly like
Steve Daly's ideas on this at http://www.casr.ca/mp-army-aviation-coin-daly.htm
does any one know what is the cost of a super tucano?
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