Air Force testing light-attack plane
Four aircraft are locked in a high-stakes “dogfight” over the New Mexico desert—though this one is about budgets, not bullets. As part of a $6 million Air Force experiment, Textron’s Scorpion jet, the AT-6 Wolverine, the A-29 Super Tucano, and L3/Air Tractor’s AT-802L Longsword are undergoing flight tests to determine whether a low-cost light attack platform can complement high-end fighters in future conflicts.
Managed by the Air Force’s Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation Office, the month-long trials at Holloman AFB focus on cost, performance, maintainability, and export potential. “It’s really a cost argument,” explained Jack Blackhurst, AFRL executive director. The goal is to see whether commercial off-the-shelf aircraft can deliver effective close air support in low-threat environments without the hefty price tags of jets like the A-10 or F-35.
More than 100 sorties have been flown so far, including live-fire demonstrations, search and rescue scenarios, and day/night operations. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein personally piloted two of the contenders during his visit, underscoring the service’s interest. “This experiment is about looking at new ways to improve readiness and lethality,” Goldfein said, calling it a chance to rethink how the Air Force supports counterterrorism and coalition operations.
While the service hasn’t committed to buying any aircraft yet, Congress is watching closely. The Senate Armed Services Committee has already authorized $1.2 billion for the initiative, and the late Sen. John McCain suggested the U.S. may need up to 200 light attack planes by 2022 for counterterrorism and support missions in permissive airspace. Skeptics remain cautious about survivability in high-threat zones—but for the kind of fights the U.S. faces today, simpler may prove smarter.