Posted on 09/14/2010 10:53:40 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Hawker Beechcraft proposes F-35 cannon for AT-6
By Stephen Trimble
Hawker Beechcraft has revealed new details about its plans for the AT-6 light attack and armed reconnaissance (LAAR) fighter, including the possibility of integrating a 25mm cannon.
A derivative of the General Dynamics GAU-12 Equalizer, a five-barrel cannon developed for the Lockheed Martin F-35, is among the weapons in consideration for the turboprop-powered aircraft, says Derek Hess, Hawker Beechcraft's director of AT-6 development programmes.
A French 20mm gun is another option under review to either replace or augment the .50cal gun pod that is integrated on the twin-seat fighter, Hess says.
Integrating either cannon is an indication of an ongoing debate about how such an aircraft could be operated in service by the US Air Force, which plans to award a contract next year for a LAAR fleet.
© Jamie Hunter/Aviacom
Hawker Beechcraft is teamed with Lockheed Martin to offer the AT-6 to the USAF for the LAAR programme. Embraer is expected to also challenge with its EMB-314 Super Tucano.
While the AT-6 is equipped with wing-mounted .50cal gun pods, the Super Tucano has integrated .50cal guns stored in the wings.
Hawker Beechcraft considers the pod-mounted option as an advantage should the USAF decide to upgrade the LAAR's armament, as pods can be easily replaced.
However, if the LAAR aircraft is employed in close air support situations, it is not clear whether the .50cal gun will be adequate. The USAF operates the 30mm GAU-8 Avenger, a seven-barrel Gatling gun, on its Fairchild A-10 fleet.
The core role of the LAAR fleet is expected to be counter-insurgency, a mission also at odds with the short-range and relatively imprecise machine gun. For this mission, the AT-6 would employ a new class of precision-guided, small munitions that are lethal at long ranges, Hess says.
There’s a lot of things in this world that can be improved by mounting a 50 cal. gatling gun on them.
The AT6 is a sexy plane, but I don’t think it will be equal to or better than an A10 in any role, nor have the durability.
That will always be a T6 to me as well ... :)
That looks like a knock off of the Mustang.
Why change the cal .50 anyway?
In my personal impression a cal .50 round is the ideal
ammunition against soft targets.
Without air superiority fighters for cover, these planes won't operate at all, they'll be shot down in large numbers by the enemy air superiority fighters.
Not meant to be.
However it costs (much!) less per hour of operation, and its cheap. You can sell ‘em to foreign countries.
Its a good idea. Not a great idea (the ideal of being behind a turboprop while taking ground fire seems kinda scary...) but a good idea.
A GREAT idea would be a 21st century A-1 Skyraider...
Is this what BO has brought us back to? Reintroducing 50 year old technology as new?
50cal Gatlings are great on aircraft but Gatlings burn through ammo very quickly. For vehicle mounting a pair of standard M2s are a great option. The twin mounts we had on the gunboats laid devastating fire and conserved ammo relative to a Gatling. 50s are so effective that you don’t need the volume of fire you need from a .30. Watched boulders explode and trees tumble as the 50s lay into the shore line.
Yes, a pair of 50s on the ol’ pickup would clear the traffic pretty quickly.
The A-10 is one hell of an aircraft, but it doesn't carry near enough 30 MM ammo to match the beast's loiter time. Waddayado when you're outa bombs and bullets in these things, and still have a few hours of fuel left?.
True, but as long as you have air superiority there is a lot to be said for the high carrying capacity and very long loiter of the prop powered attack plane.
Most fun I had in the army was firing quad fifties mounted on old half tracks back in 1961. You think two tear things up, 4 M2s will lay out some lead.
Heck, even an AK could hurt!
Of course they would be sitting ducks for any even “relative” modern air defence. But i think they could be usefull in afghanistan for example.
Turn on a radar, and we get you... Life is pretty difficult for active radars in air defense these day.
As for the rest, if know where they are we can use GPS and laser guided bombs to attack from outside their envelope. Doesn’t mean it will work every time, but I suspect troops would rather have a “crop duster” on call, than have to wait half an hour to get a access to an A-10.
Build more A-10’s. It’s that simple.
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