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 AssociationÂ’s 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.phpCheers,
Sunho
