Air Tractor and L3 Technologies [LLL] have announced that they plan to participate in the U.S. Air Force’s light-attack aircraft experiment using their new AT-802L Longsword turboprop.
Air Tractor, of Olney, Texas, built the airplane, and New York-based L3 added a glass cockpit, an electro-optical/infrared sensor and a mission management system.
The Longsword provides “precision targeting and enduring surveillance capabilities at a fraction of the cost of traditional fighter aircraft,” the companies said in a joint news release July 31. The aircraft offers “industry-leading payload, endurance and austere-field capability” and “the lowest entry and sustainment costs in its class.”
The companies also said that the Longsword is based on a “rugged, proven platform.” The aircraft is in service with an undisclosed partner nation, and “dozens of legacy Air Tractors are supporting light attack and surveillance missions elsewhere.”
Air Force officials have said that the experiment will help them determine if light-attack aircraft could ease the anti-terrorism workload on their fighter jets, which are overtaxed and expensive to operate. Light-attack aircraft also could provide much-needed training time and allow the Air Force to absorb more pilots.
Previously announced participants in the experiment include the A-29 Super Tucano turboprop, provided by Sierra Nevada Corp. (SNC) and Embraer Defense & Security, and the AT-6 Wolverine turboprop and Scorpion jet, both supplied by Textron [TXT] Aviation Defense (Defense Daily, July 12).
The experiment is taking place at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico from July 27 to Aug. 31.