Farnborough 2010: Air Tractor starts production of AT-802U COIN aircraft

[fatman17]

AMERICAS, THE
Date Posted: 22-Jul-2010


Jane's Defence Weekly

Farnborough 2010: Air Tractor starts production of AT-802U COIN aircraft

Gareth Jennings JDW Jane's Aviation Desk Editor - Farnborough

US company Air Tractor has launched production of its AT-802U light attack and counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft for an undisclosed customer, a company spokesperson told Jane's on 21 July.

Lee Jackson, a design engineer at Air Tractor, said that a launch customer had been signed up and that production had begun at the company's facility in Olney, Texas. Jackson was unable to provide any further details, such as the customer's identity, aircraft numbers, contract value or delivery dates, citing confidentiality issues.

However, he was able to say that the customer is a "strong ally" of the US. He added that Air Tractor is also currently in discussions "with a number of foreign allies" for possible sales of the aircraft.

Air Tractor first unveiled its crop-sprayer-derived COIN aircraft at the Paris Air Show in 2009. Intended as a low-cost light attack and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform for the international market, the AT-802U was born out of an armoured crop-spraying aircraft that has been used in South America since 2002 as a counter-narcotics platform.

The tandem two-seat aircraft has recently undergone trials of its twin underwing-mounted General Dynamics Armament and Technical Products' GAU-19/A .50 calibre Gatling guns. Displayed at the Farnborough Airshow fitted with these guns, as well as two underfuselage-mounted Mk 82 'dumb' bombs and underwing-mounted Moog FTS glide-munitions, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and DAGR guided rockets, the AT-802U will undergo further live-fire trials of these weapon systems later this year, said Jackson.

Air Tractor recently announced its disappointment at the US Air Force's stated requirements for a light attack aircraft for the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC). According to an industry source, these requirements seem to be so narrow as to preclude all but the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano or Hawker Beechcraft AT-6B Texan II from fulfilling them.

Despite this disappointment, Jackson said that the company is confident of securing further international orders in the near to medium term and may be looking at providing platforms for the US Special Operations Command (SOCOM).

Air Tractor's AT-802U light attack and counterinsurgency (COIN) aircraft. Production of the aircraft has commenced for an undisclosed customer. (IHS Jane's/Gareth Jennings)

who needs COIN aircraft badly!!!!

 

[SpArK]

who needs COIN aircraft badly!!!!

undisclosed customer

strong ally" of the US

Farnborough Airshow


further live-fire trials



enough indications as to who the customer is.

 

[Jigs]

Nice find Fatman this is a interesting aircraft. The low cost and maintenance could have PAF running these things almost 24/7.

General characteristics

* Crew: 2 (tandem)
* Length: 35 ft 8 in (10.87 m)
* Wingspan: 59 ft 1 in (18 m)
* Height: 11 ft 6 in (3.5 m)
* Wing area: 401 sq ft (37.3 m2)
* Empty weight: 6,400 lb (2,903 kg)
* Gross weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 16,000 lb (7,257 kg)
* Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67F turboprop, 1,600 shp (1,200 kW)
* Propellers: 5-bladed Hartzell HC-B3TN

Performance

* Maximum speed: 230 mph; 370 km/h (200 kn)
* Cruising speed: 180 mph; 300 km/h (160 kn)
* Range: 1,841 mi; 2,963 km (1,600 nmi)
* Endurance: 10 hours
* Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,620 m)

Armament

* 8 hardpoints for up to 9,000 pounds (4,100 kg) payload, including but not limited to:

* 2 500lb or 1000 pound smart bombs
* 8 AGM-114 Hellfire laser guided missiles
* 38 2.75-in folding fin aerial rockets
* 2 GAU-19 .50-calibre gunpods

 

[Socialist]

The good thing is it's slow so it's very good for surveillance unlike traditional jet which would stall at slow speeds.

 

[Jigs]

My Favorite COIN aircraft is the FMA IA 58 Pucará

 

[TaimiKhan]

undisclosed customer

strong ally" of the US

Farnborough Airshow


further live-fire trials



enough indications as to who the customer is.

And who that country is ??

 

[Capt.Popeye]

"undisclosed customer

strong ally" of the US

Farnborough Airshow


further live-fire trials



enough indications as to who the customer is."

@ BENNY
Likely to be a Non-NATO ally.

 

[TaimiKhan]

"undisclosed customer

strong ally" of the US

Farnborough Airshow


further live-fire trials



enough indications as to who the customer is."

@ BENNY
Likely to be a Non-NATO ally.

Not necessarily, Iraq had few years ago shown interest in a COIN related aircraft. And when this Crop Duster was first shown, Iraq and Afghanistan were told to be potential buyers, no report says Pakistan.

Pakistan is more satisfied with attack helicopters, while it has sufficient aircraft which are being used in COIN operations as well as other types which can be modified into COIN operations aircraft if required.

These Crop Dusters do not satisfy our requirements, we want platforms with dual usage, meaning for COIN as well as conventional operations.

So we favor attack helicopters more compared to such platforms.

Afghanistan and Iraq are both very very strong allies of US, compared to us Pakistan.

 

[Arsalan]

i hope it is not us,,
PA can meet any such requirment from the Mushaq

i will be ridicules if we are getting turbo props from US while the indians are getting th F-18z

regards!

 

[faisaljaffery]

Pakistan should look for buying Amercian Attack Helicopters like Apachis

 

[Arsalan]

Pakistan should look for buying Amercian Attack Helicopters like Apachis

sorry but i disagree!
Pakistan must not relay on US for any front line equipment. if we can get old cobras and can get existing fleet upgradrd, well enough. for a high end role and front line machine pakistan must look for foe WZ-10 (China), T-129 (Turkey) or Rooivalk (South Africa)

regadrs!

 

[Chogy]

I like everything about this aircraft with one exception.

The good: These aircraft are ultra-rugged, and ultra-simple. Derived from crop-sprayers, they are designed to fly, refuel, fly more, over and over, with almost zero maintenance.

They can carry a heavy load. The wing area is large, lots of lift, maneuverable at slow speeds.

My problem? The canopy arrangement frankly sucks. Those heavy bars limit visibility. Remove the clunker canopy and replace it with a proper bubble canopy, and I'd be on board.

COIN/observation aircraft need a canopy like the OV-10 Bronco, or that Pucara. The OV-10 was a brilliant aircraft ahead of its time. In the 1960's, COIN was in the future. Observation was needed, and it fulfilled that role well, but light attack was not a player in Vietnam, and when it was, it was done mostly by the A1 skyraider.

Apparently, they could stuff several soldiers or paratroops in the rear of this thing for either insertion, or evacuation! Must have been tight.

 

[indushek]

What if India is the customer , would it be useful to us in anyways ?? I request the specialists to propound their views.

 

[Patriot]

Only if you want to use it against Moists - Otherwise it is very slow so it would be shot down if tried to use in offensive doctrine.

 

[XYON]

The aircraft above is a dust cropper for Lord's Sake!!! Not for our SWA and NWA Ops...Thank You!!

Here are some more pics of Global Hawk, Fire Scout VTOL and Qinetiq UCAV/ UAV along with the 1000mph demo land car mock-up displayed at the FIA 2010. The 1000mph car makers were looking for sponsors to make the real unit.