Air Force Mulls Low-Cost Fighter Experiment

[Randy Daytona]

Air Force Mulls Low-Cost Fighter Experiment
http://www.defensetech.org/2017/01/19/air-force-eyes-low-cost-fighter-experiment/

The Air Force intends to conduct an informal experiment of a potential light attack fighter aircraft the service could use in ongoing counterterrorism air campaigns, the service’s top general said Wednesday.

Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said the Air Force is looking to programs such as Textron’s Scorpion to potentially provide an inexpensive fighter capable of performing close-air support missions.

Any thoughts on whether or not the USAF will go ahead with this?

Meanwhile, it looks like Blackwater (or whatever their name is now) has perfected converting a cropduster into a light attack aircraft.

http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/03_fm2017-attack-of-the-cropdusters-180961662/

 

[BigRed389]

Air Force Mulls Low-Cost Fighter Experiment
http://www.defensetech.org/2017/01/19/air-force-eyes-low-cost-fighter-experiment/

The Air Force intends to conduct an informal experiment of a potential light attack fighter aircraft the service could use in ongoing counterterrorism air campaigns, the service’s top general said Wednesday.

Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said the Air Force is looking to programs such as Textron’s Scorpion to potentially provide an inexpensive fighter capable of performing close-air support missions.

Any thoughts on whether or not the USAF will go ahead with this?

I thought they already did this.
While we were actually fighting a pretty big war where we were in "ongoing counterterrorism air campaigns."
Told it didn't work out too well.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Light_Attack/Armed_Reconnaissance

 

[sevenhelmet]

Air Force Mulls Low-Cost Fighter Experiment
http://www.defensetech.org/2017/01/19/air-force-eyes-low-cost-fighter-experiment/

The Air Force intends to conduct an informal experiment of a potential light attack fighter aircraft the service could use in ongoing counterterrorism air campaigns, the service’s top general said Wednesday.

Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said the Air Force is looking to programs such as Textron’s Scorpion to potentially provide an inexpensive fighter capable of performing close-air support missions.

Any thoughts on whether or not the USAF will go ahead with this?

My guess is no... although they've been trying to get rid of the A-10 forever (which makes no sense), it's going to be tough to top the 'Hawg in the permissive air-to-surface role.

Meanwhile, it looks like Blackwater (or whatever their name is now) has perfected converting a cropduster into a light attack aircraft.

http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/03_fm2017-attack-of-the-cropdusters-180961662/

That would be Academi.

 

[SynixMan]

Isn't this what we have drones for?

 

[phrogdriver]

I think the A-10s will be sufficient until our robot overlords arrive.

 

[xj220]

I think the A-10s will be sufficient until our robot overlords arrive.

My experience in UASs says we have a long time before that happens.

 

[Swanee]

My experience in UASs says we have a long time before that happens.

In Naval Aviation yes. The AF...Man, if we could only get a peek into dreamland

 

[xj220]

In Naval Aviation yes. The AF...Man, if we could only get a peek into dreamland

No thank you. I'd much rather stay in the cockpit.

 

[Flash]

Air Force Mulls Low-Cost Fighter Experiment
http://www.defensetech.org/2017/01/19/air-force-eyes-low-cost-fighter-experiment/

The Air Force intends to conduct an informal experiment of a potential light attack fighter aircraft the service could use in ongoing counterterrorism air campaigns, the service’s top general said Wednesday.

Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein said the Air Force is looking to programs such as Textron’s Scorpion to potentially provide an inexpensive fighter capable of performing close-air support missions.

Any thoughts on whether or not the USAF will go ahead with this?

Meanwhile, it looks like Blackwater (or whatever their name is now) has perfected converting a cropduster into a light attack aircraft.

http://www.airspacemag.com/flight-today/03_fm2017-attack-of-the-cropdusters-180961662/

'Fighter' is misleading, it should be 'light attack aircraft'. Do I think it is a good idea? Probably, but I don't think it'll get further than studies.

 

[robav8r]

'Fighter' is misleading, it should be 'light attack aircraft'. Do I think it is a good idea? Probably, but I don't think it'll get further than studies.

Concur (I know, with Flash More than a few missions under the umbrella of NORAD & CT that could benefit from a platform other than a 5th Gen Fighter.

 

[zippy]

Isn't that the whole reason they developed the A29 and AT-6?

 

[Flash]

Isn't that the whole reason they developed the A29 and AT-6?

The A-29 was developed already, it was just modified to meet US specs for the Light Air Support contract to supply the Afghan Air Force. The AT-6B was developed to compete for the contract but lost.

 

[Treetop Flyer]

I've always thought the Air Force would be better off with a high-low mix of jets. Something like an advanced trainer that could also be a proficiency aircraft for expensive jets (like T-38's are used now). It could also handle air policing instead of having F-15's on alert to intercept a C-172, and it could have a ground attack capability in low threat environments, and would be around in a pinch of WWIII kicks off.

 

[nittany03]

I've always thought the Air Force would be better off with a high-low mix of jets. Something like an advanced trainer that could also be a proficiency aircraft for expensive jets (like T-38's are used now). It could also handle air policing instead of having F-15's on alert to intercept a C-172, and it could have a ground attack capability in low threat environments, and would be around in a pinch of WWIII kicks off.

That's what the F-16 was supposed to be.

 

[Uncle Fester]

The last heyday of the 'high-low mix' in DoD was in the 70s, and it was based on the idea that we needed to be prepared for an unlikely but possible WWIII scenario and more likely but less-expensive interventions. The problem with that is you can't keep your gold-plated peer-competitor stuff on the shelf while you're landing in Beirut or escorting oil tankers. And you can't sideline all of your counter-insurgency, invade Ferblakkistan stuff as soon as it goes off with the varsity.

Just as a for-instance, there was pushback against deploying the Ticos to the Gulf during the Tanker Wars, because that's 'not what they were meant for.' The response from NAVCENT was something to the effect of, do you have another shooting war going on at the moment?