As part of planning for a greater role for the RAF in COIN and mentoring operations I wondered if there was a role for an RAF light utility aircraft, mirroring the US Light Military Aircraft (LiMA) programme.
Whilst most of the attention is on the USAF light attack/armed reconnaissance aircraft (LAAR) likely to be a Super Tucano or similar I think the logistics capabilities afforded by the LiMA will actually have a greater impact.
Here is another contender for the light utility role.
It’s still early days but the Evektor AV55 Outback is a new European design worth a look.
It’s certainly a nice plane, but converting it – or any other civil aircraft – into a COIN platform should not be taken lightly.
Besides wiring and strenghtening the wings for weapon/sensor carriage, there’s rough field ops, ISTAR-kit integration, maintenance issues (can a wrench-turner reach the engines without ladders) etc. etc.
The US (Beech) MC-12 Libertys are a good platform, while the decidedly un-sexy armed Cessna Caravans as used by the Iraqis (in effect a ‘manned Predator’) all tick the usual boxes.
Guess it all comes down to COIN requirements and threat level anticipated.
Cheers.
Marcase, we looked at some of the other contenders here
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/03/building-an-raf-special-operations-force/
If we are buying light aircraft would it not be better to have something that has multiple roles and uses such as the Sherpa. http://www.primeportal.net/hangar/don_busack/c-23_sherpa/
long out of production I am afraid
Will it have rough field capability? The landing gear looks a little ‘ordinary’. I would think something more robust would be needed to fulfill the role you have suggested.
just floating it as an idea, have a look at the list here
http://www.thinkdefence.co.uk/2010/03/building-an-raf-special-operations-force/
The AV55 is new and unproven, and therefore has high risk written all over it. A contender must at least have a weel proven track record and be in wide spread usage, and have easy access to spare parts.
Marcase, I wouldn’t worry too much about the engine location with regard to maintenance as step ladders are easy to come by. Over-wing engines would be better though as there would be less chance of FOD and crud getting sucked down the intakes or hitting the blades.
With regards to the list on the other post, the GAF Nomad should be dropped, I’m sure they had a bad reputation for cracking in all the wrong places!
Not that I think the UK has a real requirement for any such aircraft, but just to pitch in as I am now a “plastic Canadian” – how about Viking Air’s new production DHC6 Twin Otter Series 400 ? A proven STOVL ‘bush aircraft’ that is now being marketed in a maritime / SAR version that includes radar, EO, AND 4 underwing hardpoints….
http://www.vikingair.com/content.aspx?id=2020
Jed, the Twin Otter’s a pretty good aircraft by all accounts. The British Antartic Survey team has a small fleet of them, so it must be a tough aircraft to operate in that environment.
The problem with choosing an aircraft is the differing mission requirements that they need to fulfill. I think the best option would be to go for a mixed bag of small(ish) and medium.
The Twin Otter definitely scores high in my book though. Underwing hardpoints and FLIR? Icing on the cake!