AF Picks the Super Tucano as the Light Attack Strike Aircraft

[SOWT]

Good choice IMO:

The Air Force selected the A-29 Super Tucano, shown here, as the Light Air Support platform, awarding Sierra Nevada of Sparks, Nev., a $355 million contract on Dec. 30, 2011, to supply 20 Super Tucanos and associated support. The Air Force is procuring these aircraft for the Afghan air force to serve in roles like advanced flight training, aerial reconnaissance, and light air support. Sierra Nevada is teamed with Brazil's Embraer, the Super Tucano manufacturer. Embraer will build the aircraft in Jacksonville, Fla., with delivery of them expected by the end of April 2014.
Embraer photo.

[RH]

SOWT...couldn't retrieve pic from your post.
Thought I'd help out with this...

20111230234149ENPRNPRN6-SIERRA-NEVADA-CORPORATION-A-29-SUPER-TUCANO-1y-1325288509MR.jpg

My questions...

a) Why is this better than the assets we already have there?
b) Will these be given to the Afghans, or still be flown by American pilots?

Don't judge me....I'm just a 11B.

[SOWT]

SOWT...couldn't retrieve pic from your post.
Thought I'd help out with this...

20111230234149ENPRNPRN6-SIERRA-NEVADA-CORPORATION-A-29-SUPER-TUCANO-1y-1325288509MR.jpg

My questions...

a) Why is this better than the assets we already have there?
b) Will these be given to the Afghans, or still be flown by American pilots?

Don't judge me....I'm just a 11B.

It's a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programmed aircraft, aka Afghan AF will fly.

The original plan was to buy some for us, some for the Afghan AF and send some (via FMS) to countries in South/Central America. I don't know how much of the original program has survived, but the Super T is flown by a lot of non-high speed countries; it's easy to maintain and has a ton of capabilities. The Beech AT6 (losing contractor) isn't flown (IIRC) in an armed version by anyone.

[RH]

It's a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programmed aircraft, aka Afghan AF will fly.

The original plan was to buy some for us, some for the Afghan AF and send some (via FMS) to countries in South/Central America. I don't know how much of the original program has survived, but the Super T is flown by a lot of non-high speed countries; it's easy to maintain and has a ton of capabilities. The Beech AT6 (losing contractor) isn't flown (IIRC) in an armed version by anyone.

Understood...thanks for clarifying it for me.

[VoTrooper99]

Is that a prop? The Iranian MiG's ought to have a field day with it some day.

[blackflagg509]

Hey, as long as we have A-10's up there covering our asses on th ground, we won't have to worry about using the Afghan AF for ground support; besides those fuckers don't really have a history of reliability as an armed force anyways. I still remember that Afghan AF pilot who went "nuts" and killed a larger number of our AF personnel at a meeting in Bagram last year.

[RH]

Hey, as long as we have A-10's up there covering our asses on th ground, we won't have to worry about using the Afghan AF for ground support; besides those fuckers don't really have a history of reliability as an armed force anyways. I still remember that Afghan AF pilot who went "nuts" and killed a larger number of our AF personnel at a meeting in Bagram last year.

That's right.

I really haven't heard much about Afghan AF pilot's.

So I rely on experiences you GWOT veterans share.

Are they any good (Afghan pilots)? Will this "deal" improve our air assets,
or be a waste of money?

[SOWT]

Is that a prop? The Iranian MiG's ought to have a field day with it some day.

Only if they have an operational look down/shoot down RADAR. Supr T can carry AIM-9's and props have the advantage down in the valleys. Plus we will be there for years to come and I think the F15/16 guys would love for the IRIAF to come and play Red FAG.

[Mortarman11c]

They shit all over the T-1 Texan who should have been awarded this contract! Another political move by your President.

[VoTrooper99]

Only if they have an operational look down/shoot down RADAR. Supr T can carry AIM-9's and props have the advantage down in the valleys. Plus we will be there for years to come and I think the F15/16 guys would love for the IRIAF to come and play Red FAG.

Deferring to your expertise of course, couldn't the MiG's be on them, shoot, and screw before these relics even knew what hit them?

[SOWT]

Deferring to your expertise of course, couldn't the MiG's be on them, shoot, and screw before these relics even knew what hit them?

No, AWACS (per AF website) would watch them come in and vector Fighters in. The MiG would also have to have a RADAR picture coming in.

[SOWT]

They shit all over the T-1 Texan who should have been awarded this contract! Another political move by your President.

Why do you think the AT-6 is better?

I've worked with the Super-T, and obviously have not had AT-6 CAS.