Next week, the US Air Force (USAF) is planning to conduct the Light Attack Experimentation Campaign at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, US.

The live-fly experiment will include flying Sierra Nevada and Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano, Air Tractor and L3 Platform Integration Division’s AT-802L Longsword, Textron Aviation’s Scorpion jet, and AT-6 Wolverine turboprop through a range of combat mission scenarios.

The USAF secretary Heather Wilson said: "The light attack aircraft experiment took five months from conception to aircraft delivery.

"We will learn some things, including how fast and cost-effectively we can get capabilities to the warfighter."

Embraer’s A-29 Super Tucano is a single-engine, stepped-tandem and multi-purpose military turboprop that is said to deliver both training and operational effectiveness.

The AT-802L Longsword weapon system uses L-3’s light strike system, which combines subsystems into a single, integrate package that delivers armed intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance capability, L-3 stated.

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The Scorpion aircraft is capable of performing air defence, irregular warfare, border patrol, maritime security, disaster relief, and counter-drug missions.

"We will learn some things, including how fast and cost-effectively we can get capabilities to the warfighter."

The AT-6 Wolverine is a multi-mission aircraft system that can cater to a wide variety of airmen's needs and accommodate 95% of the aircrew population.

Additionally, the airforce is planning to integrate, normalise and elevate the space mission by establishing a Deputy Chief of Staff for Space Operations directorate (A11).

The initial cadre of 43 members is in place and completing the final tasks that will ensure the A11 is ready to execute its assigned roles and responsibilities, the USAF stated.

The USAF will also consider open architecture systems, specifically in space-related multi-domain command and control, to help create a more agile and flexible environment, as well as reduce analyst processing, evaluation and decision time.


Image: Secretary of the airforce Heather Wilson speaks during an Air Force Association event in Arlington, Texas, US. Photo: courtesy of USAF.