Interesting news. But for the big picture, we have been fighting this war for over ten years and have used big, expensive and fuel gobbling jet aircraft for these support missions for awhile. I would have thought that switching to an aircraft like the Super Tucano or similar would have been a no brainer a long time ago?
Either way, better late than never as they say. I am sure we will see it get some use still and it will be really cool to see this thing in action in Afghanistan or maybe even Africa. I would be curious to see how much fuel and maintenance costs the Air Force really saves by switching to the Super Tucano for these missions as well.
On another point, I was able to stumble upon some Pierre Sprey papers on developing a Close Air Support aircraft. Here is a quote of a footnote in his essay for The Pentagon Labyrinth: 10 Short Essays To Help You Through It.
See Pierre M. Sprey, “Notes on Close Air Support,” Intrec Inc. Internal Study, Potomac, MD, May 1974. This is an extended introduction to the nature of the close air support (CAS) mission, the effectiveness characteristics required, and a comparison of aircraft available for the mission in 1974 (which remains essentially unchanged today, since no new CAS-specific aircraft or weapons have been developed in the intervening 35 years). Find a copy of this document here. See also Pierre M. Sprey, “Combat Effectiveness Considerations in Designing Close Support Fighters,” Briefing for the Office of the Secretary of Defense and for the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, 1983. This includes an effectiveness analysis, design characteristics and cost for a feasible close air support aircraft significantly more lethal and survivable than the A-10 at one-fourth the size and half the cost. See this document here.
Pierre Sprey is certainly a significant engineer and his babies were the F-16 and the A-10. He was also part of the Boyd mafia. I would be curious what Pierre would have to say about the Super Tucano, or if his vision of a CAS aircraft is different from the vision that folks have for the LSA? I would assume they are one in the same. I should also mention that Pierre had that ‘other’ war to gain lessons from called Vietnam, that probably heavily influenced his thoughts on the matter. Interesting stuff. –Matt
A-29 SUPER TUCANO WINS DEFENSE CONTRACT IN US
December 30, 2011
Embraer Defense and Security and partner Sierra Nevada Corporation will provide the US Air Force with the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft for the LAS program
The U.S. Air Force today announced that it has selected the A-29 Super Tucano, produced by Embraer Defense and Security, for the Light Air Support (LAS) program. The aircraft will be supplied in partnership with Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) as the prime contractor, and will be used to conduct advanced flight training, aerial reconnaissance and light air support operations.
“This opportunity to serve the US Government with the best product for the LAS mission, under the leadership of the Sierra Nevada Corporation as the prime contractor, honors us,” said Luiz Carlos Aguiar, CEO of Embraer Defense and Security. “We are committed to pursuing our U.S. investment strategy and to delivering the A-29 Super Tucano on schedule and within the budget.”
As specified by the Air Force, this is a firm-fixed price delivery order contract in the amount of $355 million for the Light Air Support (LAS) aircraft and associated support. Twenty LAS aircraft will be provided, as well as ground training devices to support pilot training and support for all maintenance and supply requirements for the aircraft and associated support equipment.
“We are honored by this decision and the opportunity to serve our country,” said Taco Gilbert, Vice President of ISR Business Development at SNC. “We believe in the goals of the Light Air Support mission and are proud to be able to support the United States in its partner-building efforts in Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world. American warfighters, American workers, and our partner nations all win with this award.”
About the LAS Program
The LAS mission requires a non-developmental solution that provides the versatility, engagement, and persistence that the warfighter needs in a counterinsurgency environment, at a significantly lower cost than fighter jets. That aircraft must offer intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities; deliver a wide variety of munitions (including precision guided weapons); and operate in extremely rugged terrain and austere conditions.
About the A-29 Super Tucano
The A-29 Super Tucano was built specifically for counterinsurgency missions and is currently used by five air forces and on order by others. It has proven extremely capable for LAS missions and is credited with helping the Colombian government defeat the FARC and other governments counter illegal activities. The 150+ units now in operation around the world have logged over 130,000 flight hours, including more than 18,000 combat hours without any combat loss.
About the Sierra Nevada Corporation
Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is one of America’s fastest growing private companies based on its significant growth and reputation for rapid, innovative, and agile technology solutions in electronics, aerospace, avionics, space, propulsion, micro-satellite, aircraft, communications systems, and solar energy. Under current leadership since 1981, SNC’s seven unique business areas employ over 2,100 people in 29 different locations in 15 states, all of whom are dedicated to providing leading-edge solutions to SNC’s dynamic customer base. SNC is the Top Woman-Owned Federal Contractor in the United States.
Over its approximately 50 years of history, SNC has remained focused on providing its customers the very best in diversified technologies to meet their needs, and has a strong and proven track record of success. The company continues to focus its growth on the commercial sector through internal advancements and outside acquisitions, including the emerging markets of renewable energy, telemedicine, nanotechnology, cyber and net-centric operations. For more information on SNC, visit www.sncorp.com, email generalinfo@sncorp.com, or contact +1 775 331 0222.
Press release here.
Sprey Comment on the Super Tucano after a recent A-10 Seminar:
“The Super Tucano is a poor replacement for the A-10. Because the airplane (and pilot) can be torn apart even by light machineguns, the Tucano cannot operate low enough (not without intolerable losses) to detect and attack the close-in, camouflaged, hard-to-see threats that are the most imminent dangers to our troops. It simply does not have the extensive pilot protection, fire/explosion prevention, and fully redundant, independent flight control system provisions that were designed into the A-10 and that have proven it to be far more survivable than any aircraft ever built. Even in comparison with the A-10’s considerably less survivable predecessors–the P-47s, Corsairs and A-1s, all successfully used in WWII, Korea and Vietnam close support–the Tucano, with its highly vulnerable turbo-jet engine, is notably less survivable.
The most combat-critical armament of any close support airplane is the internal gun–this is the weapon of choice whenever threats within 100m of friendlies have to be dealt with. The P-47 and Corsair had six or more caliber .50 machineguns, the A-1 had four 20mm cannons and the A-10 has a seven barrel 30mm cannon capable of destroying any infantry or armor target on the battlefield. The Super Tucano has only two caliber .50 machineguns and thus cannot destroy protected machine gun emplacements, armored personnel carriers, artillery pieces or tanks–all of them high priority targets that are easily dispatched by the A-10.”
Comment by NicJon — Wednesday, January 22, 2014 @ 12:13 AM