As the Vietnam War in the 1960's spawned gunships such as AC-47,
AC-119, AC-123, AC-130 and COIN (COunter INsurgency) aircraft like
OV-10, the current war in Iraq and Afghanistan are driving a need
for a new generation of gunships and COIN aircraft.
Recently General T. Michael Moseley, Chief of Staff of the US Air
Force, said the USAF is interested in a variant of the C-27J Joint
Cargo Aircraft "that looks a lot like a gunship with a 30mm gun" at
the Air Force Associations Air and Space Conference and Technology
Exposition. His remark is an indication of the USAF's renewed
interest in the gunship, a type that was generally given a low
priority in funding.
Several private companies are also busy promoting new COIN aircraft
adapted from existing turboprop trainers. One example is Hawker
Beechcraft's AT-6 armed trainer. The AT-6 is an armed,
network-enabled version of the T-6 turboprop trainer adopted for
the USAF's Joint Primary Aircraft Training Program (JPATS) and NATO
Flying Training Canada (NFTC). Hawker Beechcraft's brochure shows
an AT-6 armed with two laser-guided bombs, four small air-to-ground
missiles and a sensor turret in the belly. The manufacturer
emphasizes the armed trainer's netcentric warfare capability that
can be enabled by addition of a datalink.
Links
http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/09/airforce_jca_gunship_070926/
http://www.hawkerbeechcraft.com/military/at-6_ab/
http://www.usaircraftcorp.com/index.php
Cheers,
Sunho
