Aha, a nice little CAS jet Western militaries can get behind.
It looks great and it's jet power, so it's faster than a Super Toucano.
Best of all, it's completly self funded, and "The pitch is for this aircraft, which is optimized for 5-hr. endurance with onboard intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) collectors and weapons, to handle the Air Force's low-end missions such as U.S.-based interdiction, quick-reaction natural disaster support and air sovereignty patrols. The goal is to field an aircraft capable of operating for less than $3,000 per flying hour; the company declined to cite a target unit cost."
This also looks like it may make an excellent trainer jet to replace the T-38.
And most telling" Textron is building it to include a highly simplified and reconfigurable bay that is capable of carrying 3,000 lb. of weapons or intelligence-collecting equipment; the aircraft also has six hard points total. The twin Honewell TF731 engines were selected "
And " Scorpion is in the final stages of assembly, and first flight is scheduled to occur by year-end."
I'm not sure about the T-38 because USAF wants a supersonic capable jet. As a primary trainer though it would be great. Does the primary always have to be a prop job?
good point but i don't see anyone actually put it in the dirt. it does have one thing going for it you usually don't see these days...straight wings. most everyone puts some type of sweep to them. i bet that accounts for a pretty impressive payload for such a little airplane.
Aha, a nice little CAS jet Western militaries can get behind.
ReplyDeleteIt looks great and it's jet power, so it's faster than a Super Toucano.
Best of all, it's completly self funded, and "The pitch is for this aircraft, which is optimized for 5-hr. endurance with onboard intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) collectors and weapons, to handle the Air Force's low-end missions such as U.S.-based interdiction, quick-reaction natural disaster support and air sovereignty patrols. The goal is to field an aircraft capable of operating for less than $3,000 per flying hour; the company declined to cite a target unit cost."
This also looks like it may make an excellent trainer jet to replace the T-38.
And most telling" Textron is building it to include a highly simplified and reconfigurable bay that is capable of carrying 3,000 lb. of weapons or intelligence-collecting equipment; the aircraft also has six hard points total. The twin Honewell TF731 engines were selected "
And " Scorpion is in the final stages of assembly, and first flight is scheduled to occur by year-end."
This will be in the air by the end of the year.
I just wonder if it has an internal gun. Besides that, it looks great.
DeleteF-35 -- $30,000 per hour
DeleteI'm not sure about the T-38 because USAF wants a supersonic capable jet. As a primary trainer though it would be great. Does the primary always have to be a prop job?
DeleteWorry about the low intakes. That is one of the reasons the A-10 beat the YA-9, the low intakes suck in more FOD.
ReplyDeletegood point but i don't see anyone actually put it in the dirt. it does have one thing going for it you usually don't see these days...straight wings. most everyone puts some type of sweep to them. i bet that accounts for a pretty impressive payload for such a little airplane.
DeleteI would like to see it with a gun mounted under it. Maybe the gun pod from the F-35B with an extra thousand HE rounds in storage?
DeleteThat and mounted a fixed laser designator to the nose and put APKWS rocket pods under the wings. Cheap simple easy strafing.
Cool! Kinda more like an F-5 part Deux rather than an A-10 replacer to me though
ReplyDeleteLooks like a modern version of the A-10
ReplyDelete