USAF mulls real-world OA-X combat demonstration

[Zarvan]

The AT-6B Wolverine was one of the four platforms to be demonstrated during Phase 1 of the OA-X experiment. The USAF will decide if a real-world combat demonstration, perhaps in the Middle East, will take place under Phase 2. Source: US Air Force

The US Air Force (USAF) is considering a second phase of its OA-X light attack experiment that could involve a real-world combat demonstration, perhaps somewhere in the Middle East, a senior service official said on 7 November.

Speaking under the Chatham House rule, the official said that with the first phase having been completed earlier this year, a follow-on demonstration along the lines of the recently completed Combat Dragon II experiment conducted by the US Navy is being looked at.

“We could do a combat demonstration downrange, maybe in the Middle East somewhere,” the official said, adding, “No decision has been made yet, but it is something that we will look at once all of the results of Phase 1 are in.”

OA-X has been launched by the USAF to explore cost-effective attack platform options for the vast majority of combat missions that it has flown since the beginning of the first Gulf War in 1991. “For the past 26 years the USAF has been continuously deployed in a combat environment. During this time, 99% of all our missions have been flown in a permissive environment, and the [OA-X] light Attack experimentation campaign has been born out of this,” the official said. “Is there an opportunity to do things differently in the future – a concept to meet all of our mission capabilities while adding additional capacity that is more flexible?”

Phase 1 for OA-X took place in August, and involved the Textron AT-6B Wolverine, Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano (designated A-29 by the US government), Textron Scorpion, and L3 Technologies-Air Tractor AT-802L Longsword. As the official noted, the first two platforms were designated as Tier 1 for meeting all of the USAF’s requirements, while the latter two were classed as being Tier 2 for meeting some of them.

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http://www.janes.com/article/75478/usaf-mulls-real-world-oa-x-combat-demonstration

 

[Sinnerman108]

Lessons for Pakistan.

If the richest of nations are looking into these simpler, cheaper platform for 2nd tier operations
than there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't.

We have huge western border, that needs these planes to keep covering cheap 24x7.

@Khafee

 

[gambit]

Lessons for Pakistan.

If the richest of nations are looking into these simpler, cheaper platform for 2nd tier operations
than there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't.

We have huge western border, that needs these planes to keep covering cheap 24x7.

@Khafee

Be careful...

“For the past 26 years the USAF has been continuously deployed in a combat environment. During this time, 99% of all our missions have been flown in a permissive environment,..."

Note the highlighted.

The 'permissive environment' referenced means there were no credible challenges to our airpower. Am not saying that Pakistan cannot use these lighter platforms, just that Pakistan should have a credible justification for using these lighter platform other than 'because the US uses them'.

 

[Gomig-21]

Be careful...

Be careful of what? I believe the reference was to patrolling and carrying out vermin extermination missions on Pakistan's own western border, which 85% of it is with Afghanistan.

The 'permissive environment' referenced means there were no credible challenges to our airpower. Am not saying that Pakistan cannot use these lighter platforms, just that Pakistan should have a credible justification for using these lighter platform other than 'because the US uses them'.

The justification is cost per flight hours, not because the US is or might use them, if I'm not mistaken.

If the richest of nations are looking into these simpler, cheaper platform for 2nd tier operations
than there is absolutely no reason why we shouldn't.

Absolutely. Egyptian Air Force is using AT-802's to relieve the heavy cost of repeated missions using their F-16s and thousands of expensive precision munitions associated with the Falcons, or any of the other high cost AC including WingLoong UAVs and Apaches with Hellfires. They've already used up a lot of those.
This is a very cost effective alternative to the eradication and the crunching of cretin vermin.

12 AT-802U's (armed version) bought from the UAE last year (2016.)

This is the agricultural version, Fire Boss Air Tractor made and used for putting out fires.

 

[Sinnerman108]

Be careful...

“For the past 26 years the USAF has been continuously deployed in a combat environment. During this time, 99% of all our missions have been flown in a permissive environment,..."

Note the highlighted.

The 'permissive environment' referenced means there were no credible challenges to our airpower. Am not saying that Pakistan cannot use these lighter platforms, just that Pakistan should have a credible justification for using these lighter platform other than 'because the US uses them'.

We have had this discussion before.

My premise like that of the US air-force is economics.

First tier platforms ( F-16s, etc ) will soften up or neutralize any threatening enemy assets.
After which the cheaper platforms take over, with either glide bombs, surveillance, or good old hell fires.

Once the aircraft has enough altitude and carrying GPS guided bombs,
job is done.