美 공군 경공격기 도입사업 (LAS) 에서 탈락한 AT-6

 

美 공군이 추진하는 경공격기 도입사업 (LAS, Light Air Support) 에서 Hawker Beechcraft 社의 AT-6 기종이 탈락

했다는 Defense Daily 기사를 소개 합니다.

 

AT-6 는 Hawker Beechcraft 社의 초등훈련기 T-6A Texan II 의 개량형으로, 美 공군 LAS (혹은 LAAR, Light-Attack

& Armed Reconnaissance) 도입 사업의 후보기종으로 그동안 브라질 Embraer 社의 Super Tucano 와 경합을 벌여

왔습니다.

 

참고로 Hawker Beechcraft 社와 Embraer 社는 각각 Lockheed Martin 및 Sierra Nevada 社와 컨소시엄 형태로 동

사업에 참여한 바 있습니다.

 

앞서 소개한 LAS (LAAR) 관련 소식들은 아래 태그를 참조하시면 되며, 아래 첫번째 사진은 Hawker Beeckcraft 社

가 제공하는 홍보용 합성사진 입니다.

 

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USAF Tosses Beechcraft AT-6 From Light Air Support Bid

Defense Daily, 11/21/2011

 

 

The Air Force has eliminated Hawker Beechcraft’s AT-6 from the bidding process under the Light Air Support (LAS) program, the company said last week, adding that it had formally requested a review of the decision.

 

“We have been notified by the United States Air Force in a letter that the Beechcraft AT-6 has been excluded from the Light Air Support competition. The letter provides no basis for the exclusion. We are both confounded and troubled by this decision,” the company said in a statement on Friday.

 

Hawker Beechcraft had teamed with prime contractor Lockheed Martin [LMT] in the competition. The elimination would leave only one other publicly declared bidder, the Sierra Nevada-Embraer team with Brazil-based Embraer's Super Tucano.

 

The Air Force did not immediately respond to a request on the status of the program.

 

The Air Force has identified the need for a small aircraft that could be used for low scale air support missions that do not require the heavy firepower but also higher cost associated with using traditional support aircraft like the A-10.

 

“We have followed the Air Force's guidance closely and, based on what we have seen, we continue to believe that we submitted the most capable, affordable and sustainable light attack aircraft as measured against the Air Force's request for proposal,” Hawker Beechcraft said. “We have requested a debriefing from the Air Force and will be exploring all potential options in the coming days."

 

The Air Force had been expected to announce an award last summer.

 

 

  ⓒ Hawker Beechcraft Corporation

 

  ⓒ Hawker Beechcraft Corporation

 

  ⓒ Hawker Beechcraft Corporation