The COIN Aircraft Comeback

[Originalboxcar]

DEFENSE TECH

The COIN Aircraft Comeback



The Iraqi air force in two years will be flying a new fleet of single-engine turboprops as counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft. See the contract solicitation, posted by the US Air Force, here.

The requirement limits the potential bids to companies that have an aircraft that a) is already in wide use and b) is powered by the Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6 engine.

That narrows the bidders to four that Defense Tech can think of: the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, the Hawker Beechcraft AT-6 Texan, the Korean Aerospace KO-1 Wong Bee and the Pilatus PC-9M.

Not to play favorites, but Defense Tech humbly suggests this means there are only two serious candidates: the AT-6 and EMB-314 -- with the AT-6 gaining a huge advantage from the "Made in America" sticker stamped on the program's marketing literature.

But don't count out the Brazilians with the Super Tucano. Expect the executives in Sao Jose Dos Campos to propose moving the EMB-314 assembly -- or opening a second production line -- to Florida, if they win the contract.

Keep your eye on this program. This could be the first of many such requirements for a dedicated counter-insurgency aircraft fleet to come down the line, both abroad and in the US.

A reader commented on The Dew Line a few weeks ago:

"The T-6 is a trainer, and attempts by Hawker Beechcraft (or whatever it's called this week) to remodel it as an armed platform are not convincing. That's not what it was designed to do.

"Remember, the T-6 is just a Pilatus PC-9 and the original Swiss design is forbidden by law from being armed...anyone with armed PC-9s has made their own, alternative, arrangements. So flying in combat is not in its genes. Attempts by Raytheon to compare the armed T-6 with the F-15 were met with an embarrassed silence at one show I remember, not so long ago.

"The Super Tucano on the other hand was designed to be a combat aircraft from Day 1 – that’s why it makes a lousy trainer because it’s so big and heavy. The Brazilians deploy it into Amazon dirt strips to fight drug smugglers, it has guns (not an “internal gun pod” but two 0.50-cals in the wing), it can carry air-to-air missiles and has a very sophisticated (data linked) cockpit (thank you Elbit). In its class the Super Tucano is probably the aircraft you want to go to war in."

Also, see my colleague John Croft's account of his recent experience flying the AT-6 here on FlightGlobal.com.

I'll just note that an armed variant of the T-6A is flown by the Hellenic Air Force, but lacks internally mounted guns in favor of a 50-cal pod.

[Junkyard36]

Interesting post.

I wonder if there was any thought given to resurrecting the Piper Enforcer and adding it to the mix?

Also, I wonder what kind of MANPAD countermeasures the airframes would need to have in order to operate in the Iraqi environment?

[Shay]

THE NEXT CHAPTER




Shay
_____________
Semper Fortis

[RNDMTRS4EVR]

There is no way in he!! that todays mondern military would look at a tail dragger!! Pilots are too scared to use their feet!!! I wish they still used tail draggers they just look cool on the ramp. He!! I wish my Caravan was a tail dragger sure would save me alot of grief on cleaning up dings in the blades when they get back from a ranch trip.
Scott......

[Randy Haskin]

Interesting post.

I wonder if there was any thought given to resurrecting the Piper Enforcer and adding it to the mix?

Also, I wonder what kind of MANPAD countermeasures the airframes would need to have in order to operate in the Iraqi environment?

I don't see any way the Enforcer would make a comeback. The T-6II is based off an airframe that is all ready widely produced and easily supportable -- the Enforcer is not. Although there is some portion of the "tail dragger" aspect that is true, military pilots are not cretins who couldn't learn how to do it. Personally, I think managing a 4 v 16 of Eagles vs Su-27s slightly more difficult than learning to land and takeoff a taildragger. I think that most fighter/attack guys would have no problem figuring it out.

The MANPAD threat isn't nearly as significant as the RPG threat over in Iraq right now. Either way, unless someone starts importing higher tech weaponry, there's nothing the insurgents have that some flares can't take care of.

[K5DH]

Did someone request a COIN aircraft? Hmmm... where's an OV-10 Bronco when you need one?

[CAPFlyer]

Only real problem with the Bronco is that it's a twin. They want a single (easier to maintain, easier to train, etc). Not only that, but it's a lot of airplane for not a lot of armament since it was designed as a hybrid light transport and Forward Air Control aircraft more than a full-bred COIN aircraft.

Now, I'd love to see the A-37 (a true COIN aircraft in the mold of the venerable A-1 SPAD) make a comeback with new Garrett or PWC Turbofans, but again, the Air Force states that it must be based around a single PT-6, so that won't happen either.

[Rob Mears]

I know that these beauties are finally coming up for sale as surplus. I've always had a passion for the original Tucano, and had always hoped that they would make it (intact) onto the surplus market one day soon. The RAF is apparently beginning to liquidate at least a couple dozen of these. If anyone imports one of these into the US, I'll gladly pay fuel costs for a chance to keep the back seat warm sometime.

[Tulio]

Rob,

B'stormers has had for some time, an ad for a British (Shorts) Tucano for sale.

It has been offered without engine or prop, but the rest of the aircraft seems to be there.

Go break that piggy bank now! : )


Saludos,


Tulio

[King]

Hmmm...The Barnstormers add mentions a Garrett TPE engine as what is needed for this aircraft and the photo confirms that.

The Embraer Tucano also used the Pratt and Whitney PT6A-25C engine and a Hartzell propeller. I wonder if the British supplied aircraft only had the Garrett engine?

For our STC'd power upgrade to the Pilatus PC-7, we used the PT6A-25C engine and Hartzell propeller package off of the Tucano. Really made for a super performing aircraft.

[wendovertom]

I love the Super Tucano! I know the civilian Embraer sales rep fairly well but he just won't be talked into calling Embraer and asking for a demo plane for our air show!!

I am sure that a demil version of the Super Tucano would sell really well!!



Tom P.

[famvburg]

I think that's the case.

if the British supplied aircraft only had the Garrett engine

Hmmm...The Barnstormers add mentions a Garrett TPE engine as what is needed for this aircraft and the photo confirms that.

The Embraer Tucano also used the Pratt and Whitney PT6A-25C engine and a Hartzell propeller. I wonder if the British supplied aircraft only had the Garrett engine?

For our STC'd power upgrade to the Pilatus PC-7, we used the PT6A-25C engine and Hartzell propeller package off of the Tucano. Really made for a super performing aircraft.

[Shay]

Here is one I had not heard of until just recently:

FMA IA 58 Pucará

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FMA_IA_58_Pucar%C3%A1



IA 58 Pucará Counter-Insurgency aircraft
Class turboprop
Crew 2
Length 14.25 m (46 ft 9 in)
Wingspan 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in)
Height 5.36 m (47 ft 1 in)
Wing area 30.3m² (326.1ft²)
Weight (Empty) 4,020 kg (8,860 lb)
Maximum Takeoff 6,800 kg (15,000 lb)
Powerplant 2 Turbomeca Astazou XVIG 965 shp turboprops
Max Speed 750 km/h (466 mph)
Cruising Speed 480 km/h (298 mph)
Range 3,710 km (2,300 mi)
Wing Loading 132.7 kg/m² empty, 224.4 max takeoff
Thrust/Weight 0.4825 hp/kg empty, 0.2838 hp/kg max takeoff
Guns 2× 20 mm Hispano-Suiza HS.804 autocannons
4× 7.62 mm FM M2-20 machine guns
Bombs 3× hardpoints for up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lb) of gun pods, bombs, rockets, mines, or torpedoes

Pretty cool looking aircraft.

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Eric Friedebach]

I don't see any way the Enforcer would make a comeback.

Randy, did you mention one time that you were working on a book about the Enforcer?

I’ll be your first customer when it’s done.

[Randy Haskin]

I don't see any way the Enforcer would make a comeback.

Randy, did you mention one time that you were working on a book about the Enforcer?

I’ll be your first customer when it’s done.

I am, yes. Unfortunately it had to be pushed back a while due to a war in Afghanistan.