Goldfarb and I thought it might be the Super Tucano or Texan, but it’s looking like the A-67 Dragon might be filling those new COIN squadrons that General Comer was talking about (Comer works on the A-67 project, so grain of salt and all that). Here’s some useful stats: • Can achieve 11 hours of loiter on target on internal fuel and air speeds ranging from 85 to 370 knots • No hydraulic systems • Armor-protected engine and cockpit • Self-sealing tanks, fire-blocking foam • Protected routing of cables, lines and push tubes • Designed to withstand small arms fire • Whole aircraft ballistic parachute recovery system Emphasis seems to be on simplicity and cost, which I dig. And I notice that many of the survivability features are also found on the A-10 Warthog, a tough-as-nails close air support platform that’s survived the loss of wings, engines, hydraulics, you name it. One other note, I have no idea what to make of the “whole aircraft ballistic parachute recovery system,” as it’s a distinctly unappealing prospect to find yourself slowly drifting down towards a nest of heavily armed insurgents while stuck in ceramic/metal coffin. Something that struck me as I was reading over the US Aircraft Corporations press kit: this airframe fits perfectly into the irregular warfare equation. It’s cheap, easy to export, perfect for Iraq and Afghanistan’s budding air forces, and–because we’ll be fielding the aircraft ourselves–will have the necessary logistics support lines between the U.S. and client nations. A simple, cheap, and effective solution from the Air Force–never though I’d see the day.
