Posted on 10/20/2016 6:43:01 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Textron AirLand’s Scorpion light attack fighter has demonstrated its close air support capability for the first time during a weapons exercise at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
Operating from Holloman AFB in New Mexico, the developmental aircraft launched three different munitions during tests that ran from 10-14 October.
Under evaluation were Hydra-70 unguided 2.75 in rockets, the BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System, and Lockheed Martin AGM-114F Hellfire missile.
Weapons guidance was supported by the aircraft’s L-3 Wescam MX-15Di sensor and a ground-based laser designator, Textron says.
The time taken from design and integration to flight testing for the three weapons was an “impressive” three months, says the manufacturer. Evaluations were conducted in co-ordination with US Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and the US Air Force's Holloman-based 586th Flight Test Sqn.
Textron AirLand
“The success of the first weapons capability exercise is a major milestone for the Scorpion programme as we continue to demonstrate its mission flexibility and multi-role capabilities,” Tom Hammoor, senior vice-president of defence at Textron Aviation, says.
“We could not be more pleased with the results of this exercise, thanks to the collaboration between our Scorpion team, the NAVSEA organisation and Holloman air force base.”
In parallel to flights with the Scorpion prototype, the company is also in the process of developing the first production variant of the light attack/trainer, with a maiden sortie “expected soon”.
In a release accompanying its third-quarter accounts, Scott Donnelly, chief executive of parent company Textron, says: “We are also pleased with progress on the Scorpion and have accelerated investment in this program to support the accreditation process and increased customer engagement.”
Great post..!
http://www.airvectors.net/avf89.html
The original Scorpion. F-89
My favorite plane when I was a kid.
Will that replace the T38? (Or was that replaced ages ago?)
Went through Alamagordo often when I lived in NM. I lived in Silver City most of that time 1972-1986. First 9 months I lived in NM was in Las Cruces. Wife liked the mountain better so we moved there.
Lots of my ham op friends worked at the labs & military bases. Good bunch of guys.
White Sands is an amazing place.
You want close air support that can take a licking, keep on ticking, and continue to destroy everything in its path, you call in the Warthogs.
I still like the A-10.
Inferior to the A-10 but the Scorpion is being marketed as an affordable aircraft for 3rd World countries. The MSRP price for the Scorpion is only $20 MM and I bet much cheaper to operate than the alternatives out there.
This is a COIN/light attack aircraft, it is not an A-10 replacement.
I am glad they are trying to make specific attack aircraft, instead of more gold plated F-35’s that are “too expensive” to do CAS.
“Lots of my ham op friends worked at the labs & military bases. Good bunch of guys.”
We may have a mutual friend, Doug R. He worked at White Sands, has lived in both Cruces and Silver, and is still a ham, in more ways than one.
They should go back to the OV-10 and update it. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel.
Screw the 3rd World, they don’t need this stuff.
It is kinda “cute” but never a replacement for the A-10!!!
Warthogs rule CAS!!!!
Amen! Precisely what I was thinking.
Agree, the OV-10 is a solid platform for COIN/ light attack. I have read some articles that discuss what you suggest.
“Will that replace the T38? (Or was that replaced ages ago?)”
Not replaced yet. They have not decided who wins that one.
“They should go back to the OV-10 and update it. Stop trying to reinvent the wheel.”
Or bring back the A-1 Skyraider and update it.
Engines on the underbelly eh? Great.
“Whew”.....I am glad I did not miss an entire generation of trainer. That would be a bad sign...
Yeah, no kidding. Considering the 38 has lasted for how half a century.
Oh, but did you miss when the T-37 got replaced by the T-6A Texan II?
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