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.