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.
Until the Stingers arrive.
But any modern shoulder fired fire and forget anti aircraft missile would be the death of this “birds”.
Quads are cool. The rear gun on the boats was supposed to be an M-60 but they were all replaced with another M2. Three is almost as good as four!
I am a fixed winger all the way, but frankly I can't see what these things do that helos cannot. Of course, in Afghanistan, helos are at a disadvantage in the high mountains, and are also vulnerable to RPGs.
My other question is that I doubt the sincere AF commitment to Close Air Support. They HATE the A-10 and couldn't wait to give it to ANG units! Unless you are at 35,000+ and at least have the capability of going Mach 1, you ain't shiite in the AF promotion list.
Ask any AD1 pilot. 6 hour loiter time, 9,000 lbs ordnance, 4 20 MM cannon, rockets, pilot in a titanium "bathtub." strictly the era of dumb bombs and smart pilots. And scant respect from the fighter jocks. AF couldn't wait to ditch that mission, too!
The A-10 tooling no longer exists. When the AF decided to re-wing the fleet, the tooling for the new wing had to be designed and built from the ground up.
Somebodies not thinking clearly, IMHO helicopters are far better close air support, scouting and recon packages than any fixed wing airframes. Maybe these airplanes are ment for third world countries, ut we surely don't want them in the USAAF Perhaps that's where Hussein's insane financial strategms are taking us?
Depends on the countermeasures package.
They have not accomplished much so far...
Personally, I’d build something like that and arm it with 2.75 inch FFARs - with laser or GPS guidance. I think they developed this and its been looking for a home ever since.
[That looks like a knock off of the Mustang.]
There was an attempt to make a super mustang in the 80s that was more bad ass than the T-6. Too bad it wasn’t pursued. It was a turbo-prop too.
You need a picture of the type with the 37mm anti-tank guns under the wings.
Now you're talkin'.
They won't survive an environment which has the equivalent of Stinger anti-air missiles, or anti-aircraft guns.
In short these are only good in environments where the targets can't shoot back, like civilian protesters.
What we'll be reduced to by the time Obama's done...
As said Afghanistan is the only battlefield i could think of where they might could be usefull. (This or maybe in a few 3rd world african hell holes). Because there it would be a cheap “alternative” you could call in for close air support against soft targets. For example in cal. 50 they could carry a lot more bullets than an A10 or an Apache (and the bullets are much cheaper ;-)
And since my main job in the military was “sitting” behind “my 12,7” ;-) i know that this is a very usefull round against enemy fighters or against other soft or even light armored targets.
Depends on the countermeasures package.
They have not accomplished much so far...
Just for example look at this (you will notice that the bullets cut the rope now imagine what would happen to a big targed flying at the same speed). Btw. this is not even new technology (they allready have started to replace them).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onFypxeAkGE&feature=related
If they really want a air to ground plane why not mount a pod at the end of the wing with a improved 40 mm grenade machine launcher if you will.
The F-35 cannon is a 25mm, the .50 cal is 12.7mm.
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