[rdcbn]

The AT-6 is derivative of the Swiss Pilatus PC-9. The PC-9 is modernized version of the the 1970’s vintage Pilatus PC-7.

The Pilatus PC-7 itself is 1950’s vintage Pilatus PC-3 which has been retrofitted with a turbo prop engine in place of the original 260 horsepower Lycoming piston engine so the design goes back a long, long way.

It's an excellent training aircraft but the basic airframe could be a bit too small to carry enough weaponry to be effective compared to Embraer Tucano, although it would be a better choice for the ISR role than the much larger Tucano

[MasterGunner01]

The AT-6B/C is a good choice for the light attack/recon role. It's the very kind of aircraft the boots on the ground need. But, we're dealing with the “Fighter Mafia” USAF here. According to these guys, if it can't go Mach 2 it isn't worth spit. Ergo, such low tech solutions will be sabotaged.

Aviation Week just ran a story that procurement of 15 airframes is being held-up for a bunch of congressional/bureaucratic mumbo-jumbo reasons. When and if the AT-6B/C gets into service will be a miracle.