Dubai Airshow 2015: Light strike turboprops centre stage in the UAE

[Zarvan]

One of the first of 24 IOMAX Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft to the delivered to the UAE air force at the Dubai Airshow 2015. Source: IHS/Gareth Jennings
The Dubai Airshow 2015 is featuring three light attack turboprop types that are each looking to secure as big a slice as possible of what promises to be a lucrative regional market.

The IOMAX Archangel, Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano, and Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine are each being featured at the event which runs from 8-12 November, in the hope of securing further sales for the former two and a maiden sale for the latter.

While the Middle East has traditionally been associated with sales of the latest high-tech fighter jets, light strike turboprops are increasingly coming into vogue as the advanced air forces of the region look for the most suitable and effective means of waging the low-intensity counter-insurgency campaigns that they are increasingly being asked to fight.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) in particular has led the way in fielding this kind of capability in the Middle East, having introduced the IOMAX AT-802 Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA) into service some years back. The UAE has since donated a number of these aircraft to Jordan and Egypt, which is in the process of replacing the Archangel.

The new Archangel has been developed from the AT-802 to carry Paveway II GBU-12/58 precision-guided bombs, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and CiRit guided rockets on its six underwing hardpoints. IOMAX is also looking to integrate the Thales FreeFall Lightweight Multi-role Missile, the Turkish-made Teber 250 lb and 500 lb laser-guided bombs, and the UMTAS long-range air-to-surface anti-tank missile. A podded GAU-19 12.7 mm Gatling gun is also an option. In addition to the weapons it can carry, the Archangel is also equipped with an electro-optic/infrared (EO/IR) turret housed on a pod that can be modified to carry a synthetic aperture radar, ground-moving target indicator radar, and datalinks.

Deliveries of the first of 24 Archangels to the UAE began in mid-2015 and are set to conclude in January 2016.

Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options ihs.com/contact




To read the full article, Client Login
(335 of 841 words)

Dubai Airshow 2015: Light strike turboprops centre stage in the UAE - IHS Jane's 360