OA-X "light attack" programma en ontwikkelingen

Gestart door Harald, 15/03/2017 | 08:34 uur

Harald

Saudi testing precedes Scorpion's Dubai debut   ( het eerste export klant ? ... de Saudi's )

Textron AirLand's production-standard Scorpion light-attack aircraft appears set to make a debut appearance at the Dubai air show from 12-16 November, with the aircraft currently being flown in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.

Registered N532TX, the Scorpion was photographed as it transited through Glasgow airport in Scotland late last month.


Online flight tracking services show the twinjet as performing demonstration flights from Tabuk air base in Saudi Arabia on 1-2 November. In July Textron chief executive Scott Donnelly identified Riyadh as a potential customer for the Honeywell TFE731-engined strike asset, describing talks as being at an early stage.

Textron AirLand conducted the first flight of its production-representative Scorpion in December 2016, and earlier this year the airframe was involved in an OA-X low-cost close air support aircraft experiment conducted by the US Air Force. It features numerous design enhancements from a first prototype which entered testing in December 2013, with the company still seeking a launch buyer.

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/saudi-testing-precedes-scorpions-dubai-debut-442826/

ridivek

Jammer dat het scheiden van flight control en Attack software van de F-35 nog moet gaan gebeuren tijdens de Block 4 modificatie.   :silent:

Bij toeval zag ik op de TV een deel van de presentatie van Thales aan de 2e kamer [Thales Connect]
Deze meneer vertelde toen het ging over cyber veiligheid dat hij een bericht gelezen had dat het Reaper systeem al jaren met een cyber infectie kampt. duzz...

Ik zeg beter ten halve gekeerd dan ten volle gedwaald.
Invoer BMD met SM-6 & SM-3 B1B, Die 10 F-35 komen helaas, maar B61 mogen weg!
Daarnaast nog 2x wing Gripen-E en jager-trainer/light attack.
Sorry off topic.

Parera

Citaat van: Poleme op 17/10/2017 | 21:01 uur
Opmerkelijk ?

Ik heb al meerdere keren op DF geschreven, dat het beschikbare budget a EUR 100 - 250 miljoen helemaal niet toereikend is voor 1 MQ-9 Reaper systeem met 4 kisten en 2 grondstations.
Op 27 Juni 2013 werd het Amerikaanse congres ingelicht voor een eventuele aanschaffing door Frankrijk van 16 Reapers en 8 grondstations, reserve-onderdelen, opleidingen etcetera voor circa USD 1,5 miljard.   Nederland zou dan USD 375 miljoen = ca. EUR 296 miljoen kwijt zijn.
In 2008 werd het congres ingelicht, dat de Italianen 4 Reapers en 3 grondstations wilden kopen.  Dat zou ongeveer USD 330 miljoen kosten.

Nederland wil de Reapers 6 maanden kunnen uitzenden en heeft daarvoor 96 personeelsleden beschikbaar.  Een Reaper dient beschikbaar te voor opleiding, oefenen en als reserve.   Om bijvoorbeeld 6 maanden constant 1 Reaper in de lucht te hebben, een zogenaamde Reaper orbit.  Heb je echter 5 Reapers, 3 grondstations en 171 pax nodig.  Toen de Britten nog 5 Reapers hadden, duurde een Reaper missie gemiddeld rond de 11 vlieguren.  De Amerikaanse Reapers maken gewapende missies van gemiddeld 13 tot 16 uur.    Hoeveel % van de tijd kunnen Nederlandse Reapers een bepaald gebied in de gaten houden?  Hoeveel vlieguren kunnen de Reapers per jaar vliegen?  Een vlieguur deed in 2012 USD 3.612 (directe + indirecte kosten = operationele kosten).  In 2012 bedroegen de eigendom kosten per Reaper vlieguur USD 4.762 (ops kosten + afschrijving & infrastructuur).  En dan hebben UAV's in het algemeen ook nog eens 10 x zoveel kans om te crashen dan bemande vliegtuigen.
95 US Air Force Reapers vlogen in 2012 in totaal 113.706 uren = gemiddeld 1.196,91 uren (100) per jaar per kist x USD 3.612 = USD 4,3 miljoen per jaar per Reaper.
42 USAF MC-12W Liberty's (King Air 350's) vlogen in 2012 in totaal 112.955 uren = gemiddeld 2.689,40 uren (225) per MC-12W per jaar x USD 3.726 = ruim USD 10 miljoen per jaar per MC-12W.   Een MC-12W aanschaffen kost ca. USD 18 - 20 miljoen.  En de MC-12W totale eigendom kosten bedragen USD 3.973 per vlieguur.

resume, type:                   MQ-9                              MC-12W
ops kosten per uur 2012    USD 3.612  (100)             3.726  (103,2)
total owner cost per hr             4.762  (100)             3.973  ( 83)
productiviteit 2012 per kist  1.196,91 uur (100)          2.689,40 (225)


zie: http://www.defensieforum.nl/Forum/index.php?topic=20879.255
topic: Male UAV voor de Klu,    Reactie #138,  d.d. 21-11-13

Ik twijfel ook aan hoe inzetbaar deze toestellen zijn als ze ongewapend zijn als je kijkt naar bijvoorbeeld Mali waar ze boven een SOF operatie meevliegen en men raakt in de problemen kunnen ze alleen maar meekijken hoe onze troepen op de grond in gevecht raken. In de vorm van 100% ISR waarbij je voor de troepen uit gaat verkennen is het wel goed te doen maar wil je bijvoorbeeld live meekijken ( wat de Amerikanen veel doen) en daarbij fire support kunnen leveren als dit nodig is dat kan NL weer niet van wegen een te slappe politieke hap.

Poleme

Citaat van: Harald op 22/09/2017 | 08:28 uur
Light ISR: The Air Force's next experiment?   
(opmerkelijke uitspraken in dit artikel !! ... USAF kijkt naar bemande toestellen (zoals Scorpion of MC-12W) om onbemande MQ-9 Reaper te vervangen voor ISR missies, omdat deze een goedkopere oplossing zouden zijn ! )

The Air Force is considering whether to press forward with a demonstration of inexpensive, off-the-shelf light intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft that could complement a potential light attack plane buy.
... / ...

Instead of fielding a fleet of small jets like Scorpion, Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst for the Teal Group, told Defense News that the Air Force could benefit more from restarting the operations of the MC-12W, a crewed ISR aircraft rapidly fielded by the service under Project Liberty.

.../...

http://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/air-force-association/2017/09/21/light-isr-the-air-forces-next-experiment/
Opmerkelijk ?

Ik heb al meerdere keren op DF geschreven, dat het beschikbare budget a EUR 100 - 250 miljoen helemaal niet toereikend is voor 1 MQ-9 Reaper systeem met 4 kisten en 2 grondstations.
Op 27 Juni 2013 werd het Amerikaanse congres ingelicht voor een eventuele aanschaffing door Frankrijk van 16 Reapers en 8 grondstations, reserve-onderdelen, opleidingen etcetera voor circa USD 1,5 miljard.   Nederland zou dan USD 375 miljoen = ca. EUR 296 miljoen kwijt zijn.
In 2008 werd het congres ingelicht, dat de Italianen 4 Reapers en 3 grondstations wilden kopen.  Dat zou ongeveer USD 330 miljoen kosten.

Nederland wil de Reapers 6 maanden kunnen uitzenden en heeft daarvoor 96 personeelsleden beschikbaar.  Een Reaper dient beschikbaar te voor opleiding, oefenen en als reserve.   Om bijvoorbeeld 6 maanden constant 1 Reaper in de lucht te hebben, een zogenaamde Reaper orbit.  Heb je echter 5 Reapers, 3 grondstations en 171 pax nodig.  Toen de Britten nog 5 Reapers hadden, duurde een Reaper missie gemiddeld rond de 11 vlieguren.  De Amerikaanse Reapers maken gewapende missies van gemiddeld 13 tot 16 uur.    Hoeveel % van de tijd kunnen Nederlandse Reapers een bepaald gebied in de gaten houden?  Hoeveel vlieguren kunnen de Reapers per jaar vliegen?  Een vlieguur deed in 2012 USD 3.612 (directe + indirecte kosten = operationele kosten).  In 2012 bedroegen de eigendom kosten per Reaper vlieguur USD 4.762 (ops kosten + afschrijving & infrastructuur).  En dan hebben UAV's in het algemeen ook nog eens 10 x zoveel kans om te crashen dan bemande vliegtuigen.
95 US Air Force Reapers vlogen in 2012 in totaal 113.706 uren = gemiddeld 1.196,91 uren (100) per jaar per kist x USD 3.612 = USD 4,3 miljoen per jaar per Reaper.
42 USAF MC-12W Liberty's (King Air 350's) vlogen in 2012 in totaal 112.955 uren = gemiddeld 2.689,40 uren (225) per MC-12W per jaar x USD 3.726 = ruim USD 10 miljoen per jaar per MC-12W.   Een MC-12W aanschaffen kost ca. USD 18 - 20 miljoen.  En de MC-12W totale eigendom kosten bedragen USD 3.973 per vlieguur.

resume, type:                   MQ-9                              MC-12W
ops kosten per uur 2012    USD 3.612  (100)             3.726  (103,2)
total owner cost per hr             4.762  (100)             3.973  ( 83)
productiviteit 2012 per kist  1.196,91 uur (100)          2.689,40 (225)


zie: http://www.defensieforum.nl/Forum/index.php?topic=20879.255
topic: Male UAV voor de Klu,    Reactie #138,  d.d. 21-11-13
Nulla tenaci invia est via - Voor de doorzetter is geen weg onbegaanbaar.

Harald

Thinking Smaller, the Air Force Learns a Thing or Two

After evaluating "light attack" aircraft, the military likes what it sees.

The Light Attack Experiment that took place in August at Holloman Air Force Base, deep in the New Mexico desert, "exceeded my wildest expectations for success," says U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command project officer Colonel Mike Pietrucha, "and I am not normally the fountain of excitement."

Senior Air Force leaders seems to share his optimism.         

The trial, which saw four manufacturer-supplied aircraft put through their paces in mock-combat scenarios, was intended to show the Air Force just what modern light attack airplanes—the kind typically used against small groups of enemy combatants on the ground—can do. The Air Force effectively lost light attack capabilities when the Cessna A-37 was retired after the 1991 Gulf War, and was replaced by the significantly heavier and more capable Fairchild-Republic A-10. That airplane was well-suited to destroying Soviet tanks, the job for which it was designed, but is overkill for the low-intensity wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, now well into their second decade.

Among the aircraft taking part in the event were the Sierra Nevada/Embraer A-29 Super Tucano and the Beechcraft AT-6C Wolverine. Both competed in 2010 to supply Afghanistan's air force with 24 light attack aircraft. The A-29 won, and is arguably the aircraft to beat in any future competition.

Also taking part were two aircraft at opposite ends of the light attack spectrum: Textron's internally-developed Scorpion jet and Air Tractor's AT-802L Longsword, a modified crop duster produced in partnership with L3. Not participating was the IOMAX Archangel, a highly modified Thrush crop duster that the UAE has been employing in the Middle East since 2015. The Scorpion was the only pure jet in the contest; the others are propeller-driven turboprops, all powered by the ubiquitous Pratt & Whitney PT-6 engine.

"They all gave us something to experiment with," says Pietrucha ,who stressed that "we are not making a direct comparison between aircraft. We're looking at showing off aviation capabilities of one kind or another." Asked to elaborate, Pietrucha said that non-disclosure agreements with the manufacturers prevent him from discussing any aircraft in detail. 

He also says it's too early to talk about a potential combat demonstration. "We're still wrapping up from the first experiment....I was drawing stuff out over the weekend on the back of an auto repair receipt, so we're definitely at the bar-napkin stage of the follow-on." As of now, there's no funding for such a demonstration. "We have to be cautious here, because there's a lot more problems than combat air force capability, a lot more technical challenges and so on that we want to experiment with." The Holloman experiment was reported to have cost approximately $6 million. Press reports suggest the combat demonstration, Combat Dragon III, could cost as much as $100 million, and would likely involve crews from the Air Force, Navy, Marines, and an unidentified foreign country

The Holloman experiment made two things clear, says Pietrucha: "One is that the Air Force needs to be paying attention to a much broader portion of the aircraft industry." Several of the participants, he says, "showed us things we didn't know really existed. The second big thing we learned is that industry has advanced well beyond what we're used to in terms of mission systems and in terms of manufacturing processes. We've been locked into our long-term, 20-plus year production programs for so long that we missed developments in the commercial aviation industry."

One development that caught his eye was the separation of flight control software from mission attack software. "Every participant had a variant of that," says Pietrucha, adding that Air Force research labs have been advocating this approach.

To illustrate why software separation is attractive, Pietrucha cites the software upgrade cycle for the F-15E, which he used to fly for a living. Because the flight control software and the mission software are combined, Pietrucha says the aircraft has to be re-certified every time its software gets updated. Consequently, it takes two years before any change can be adopted. By separating flight and mission software, he says updates could be done in weeks.

"We saw participants making [software] changes overnight," he says. For example, when one airman asked a manufacturer " 'Can you give me a button on the touch screen?' Bang! The next day there's a button on the touch screen." The flexibility in software means the Air Force may be able to change the way it does business, he says.

After several false starts over the last decde, the Air Force finally seems to be on track to develop a light attack aircraft, thanks in part to strong support from Arizona Senator John McCain and a $1.2 billion budget request for the OA-X program from the Senate Armed Services Committee. If everything is funded and scheduled according to plan—a rare occurrence—OA-X could remove some of the burden from faster-moving attack aircraft built for more contested airspace. Current U.S. enemies have no air defense networks to speak of, so  jaw-dropping aircraft performance and sophisticated countermeasures are largely wasted. Add OA-X to the mix, and the advanced aircraft can go back to doing what they are built for: Flying through, and laying waste to, top-notch air defenses.

https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/will-air-force-finally-get-back-light-attack-180965151/#l15AALYQ4xP6zjF6.99

Harald

Light ISR: The Air Force's next experiment?   
(opmerkelijke uitspraken in dit artikel !! ... USAF kijkt naar bemande toestellen (zoals Scorpion of MC-12W) om onbemande MQ-9 Reaper te vervangen voor ISR missies, omdat deze een goedkopere oplossing zouden zijn ! )

The Air Force is considering whether to press forward with a demonstration of inexpensive, off-the-shelf light intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft that could complement a potential light attack plane buy.

The service completed a demonstration of four light attack planes at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, in August. During the demonstration, Textron's Scorpion aircraft caught the attention of Gen. Mike Holmes, head of Air Combat command, because its modular design allows for a wide package of sensors.

As a result, Holmes said, some in the service are now intrigued by the idea of hosting a similar demonstration focused on ISR capabilities.

"If you look at some of the airplanes we flew, there are airplanes that have kind of been built with great big internal bays where you could carry a whole variety of sensors, so it's an intriguing possibility for Scorpion," Holmes told reporters during a Sept. 18 roundtable at the Air Force Association's annual conference.

"It's got extra power and cooling and things. Might we want to use that airplane to experiment with different payloads that are proposed by industry, and might that be a follow-on experiment?"

No decisions have been made on whether to start a light ISR aircraft experiment, but Holmes said Air Force leaders are considering whether an off-the-shelf plane might be able to take on more of the surveillance mission in permissive environments at a lower cost than platforms like the unmanned MQ-9 Reaper.

.../...

Instead of fielding a fleet of small jets like Scorpion, Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst for the Teal Group, told Defense News that the Air Force could benefit more from restarting the operations of the MC-12W, a crewed ISR aircraft rapidly fielded by the service under Project Liberty.

.../...

http://www.defensenews.com/digital-show-dailies/air-force-association/2017/09/21/light-isr-the-air-forces-next-experiment/

Harald

US Air Force completes first round of light attack aircraft demo

The U.S. Air Force's light attack experiment is officially over as of Aug. 30, but it will be months before the service makes a decision on whether to hold a combat demonstration, its top civilian said Thursday.

Speaking to Defense News and its sister publication Air Force Times in an exclusive interview, U.S. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson said the service had concluded test flights at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and plans to complete reports on the cost and performance of each aircraft by the end of this year.

The light attack demo, which started late July, included the A-29 Super Tucano offered by Sierra Nevada Corp. and Embraer, the AT-802L Longsword from L3 Technologies and Air Tractor and the Scorpion jet and AT-6 Wolverine turboprop, both made by Textron.

"I would expect this fall, or certainly by December or January, that we would make a decision on whether to do a follow-on experiment — it would be a combat experiment — and which aircraft might participate in that," Wilson said.

.../...

http://www.defensenews.com/air/2017/09/05/air-force-completes-first-round-of-light-attack-aircraft-demo/

Jooop

Het lijkt wel een dejavu van WO II, al die propeller jagers, spitfires en messerschmidts.

Terug naar basic?

Harald

Another Light Attack Jet Offering Joins Air Force's OA-X Fly-Off

Another aircraft will fly at the Air Force's OA-X light attack competition next week. Air Tractor and L3 announced Monday they will offer the AT-802L Longsword to participate in the fly-off at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, on Aug. 8 and 9, according to a release.

Together, the companies developed the L variant off its predecessor, the AT-802U, the release said. The Longsword is a light attack and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft.

"We are proud of the Longsword and the opportunity to participate in OA-X. We are looking forward to flying at Holloman AFB and showcasing our capabilities to the Air Force and to our partner nations," said Jim Hirsch, president of Air Tractor.

"The AT-802L Longsword provides a highly effective capability based on a rugged, proven platform that adds class-leading technologies integrated by L3 for a simple, yet powerful solution," added Jim Gibson, president of L3 Platform Integration and the L3 Aircraft Systems sector.

L3 developed a "certified, state-of-the-art glass cockpit and the L3 Wescam MX-15 EO/IR Sensor," ideal for medium-altitude ISR and search-and-rescue missions, according to the New York-based company.

Air Tractor, based in Texas, and L3 in March showed the aircraft during the Avalon Airshow in Australia, rebranding it the OA-8 with hopes of securing Asia-Pacific partners. Variants are operated by countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Egypt and Kenya.

The Air Force distributed formal invitations to the fly-off in March.

Sierra Nevada in May announced the Super Tucano will participate in the event, pitching it as "A-29 for America.

Textron and AirLand LLC will showcase the Scorpion jet, as well as the AT-6B Wolverine, an armed version of the T-6 Texan II made by Textron's Beechcraft Corp. unit and Raytheon Co., according to an April release from Textron.

http://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/185752/new-entrant-in-usaf-light-attack-aircraft-fly_off.html

AT-802L Longsword
http://www2.l3t.com/pid/pdf/datasheets/Longsword%20Brochure.pdf

Harald

Textron, Sierra Nevada prep for OA-X experiment at US Air Force base

Participants in the U.S. Air Force's light-attack aircraft experiment are revving up training activities ahead of the beginning of the exercise next month at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.

So far, two companies have disclosed that they are taking part in the experiment, which will help the Air Force decide whether to start an OA-X program of record. Textron is bringing its Scorpion jet and the AT-6 Wolverine turboprop, while Sierra Nevada Corporation and Embraer have partnered up to offer the A-29 Super Tucano.

Both companies are already on the ground at Holloman and are preparing for the experiment to start on July 31, executives from both Sierra Nevada and Textron told Defense News in interviews earlier this month.

.../...

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/textron-sierra-nevada-prep-for-oa-x-experiment-at-us-air-force-base

Harald

'A-29 for America' mounts charm offensive ahead of OA-X experiment

Sierra Nevada Corp. and Embraer are touting the A-29's American pedigree ahead of an upcoming flight demonstration that could pave the way for a competition with Wichita, Kan.-based Textron and potential sales to the U.S. Air Force.

Embraer and Sierra Nevada — the original manufacturer of the A-29 Super Tucano in Brazil, and its prime contractor in the United States, respectively — are gearing up for the Air Force's OA-X light attack aircraft experiment this August at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. There, the A-29 and Textron's Scorpion jet and AT-6 Wolverine will be put through their paces, flying simulated missions on a daily basis over a four- to six-week period.

At the end of the demo, the service will decide whether to start a program of record for an OA-X aircraft that will be used for close air support missions in the Middle East, freeing up more expensive fighter jets for high-end missions that justify their more expensive operating cost. An estimated 300 aircraft could be on the line.

...

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/a-29-for-america-mounts-charm-offensive-ahead-of-oa-x-experiment

Harald

US Senate authorisers suggest USD1.2 billion for light attack aircraft procurement

Key Points
•A Senate panel recommended authorising the USAF spending USD1.2 billion on OA-X
•This is a lot of money for an effort that is not an official USAF programme of record

A US Senate panel recommended authorising USD1.2 billion for the Pentagon to procure a fleet of light attack/observation aircraft, likely part of the Light Attack Experiment (OA-X) the US Air Force (USAF) will perform this summer.

The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) on 29 June approved its version of the fiscal year 2018 (FY 2018) defence authorisation bill, which readies it for a potential vote by the full Senate.

http://www.janes.com/article/71961/us-senate-authorisers-suggest-usd1-2-billion-for-light-attack-aircraft-procurement

Harald

Citaat van: Sparkplug op 23/06/2017 | 09:35 uur
PARIS: Scorpion tests 20mm cannon ahead of OA-X

FlightGlobal

Interessant.... maar gezien bij de Scorpion alleen onder de vleugels externe hardpoints gemonteerd kunnen worden, dus een 20mm ook (waarschijnlijk positie 3 en/of 4)  en niet gecentreerd onder de "buik"


Sparkplug

A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Harald

US Air Force OA-X light attack experiment also about networks

Key Points
•US Air Force emphasising network capabilities in OA-X
•Top officer says victory in future goes to best networked military

The networking capabilities of the aircraft participating in this summer's US Air Force (USAF) light attack aircraft experiment (OA-X) are equally important to the aircraft's commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) capabilities, according to the service's top officer.

"That's the next step of the Combat Dragon series," USAF Chief of Staff General David Goldfein told the US Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) 6 June. "It's not only to look at the platform, it's actually to look at the network it rides on."

Gen Goldfein said the USAF is focusing on networking because victory in the future will go to those who can connect together capabilities. He said getting the network right and having common system architecture and standards among the four US military services will be important.

"We're going to have parts that are exquisite, that penetrate, and those that stand off," Gen Goldfein said. "The challenge for us in the future, to move forward, is how do we connect them?"

There are two potential phases of OA-X, or as Gen Goldfein dubbed it Combat Dragon III. Phase one, the experiment, will take place in July at Holloman Air Force Base (AFB) in New Mexico. Here, the USAF will host a live-fly capabilities assessment, according to service spokesperson Captain Emily Grabowski.

Capt Grabowski said 7 June USAF personnel from the 704th Test Group at Holloman AFB will fly participant-provided, experiment-suitable aircraft in scenarios designed to highlight various combat missions and associated tasks. Highlighted missions, she said, include close air support (CAS), air interdiction, combat search and rescue (CSAR), and strike co-ordination and reconnaissance.

Capt Grabowski said the phase one assessment will include employment of commonly used fighter/attack aircraft weapons in order to assess capabilities of COTS aircraft for traditional counter-land missions.

http://www.janes.com/article/71238/us-air-force-oa-x-light-attack-experiment-also-about-networks