The US Air Force (USAF) took delivery of its first Beechcraft/Textron AT-6E Wolverine. The USAF is expected to acquire two more units of the light attack turboprop. The aircraft will be used in the Airborne Extensible Relay Over-Horizon Network program, AEROnet.
The program aims to develop a low-cost system for sharing data and communications to help allies and partners work better together during coalition operations.
The announcement of the aircraft's receipt came via a tweet from the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center (AFLCMC), headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
https://twitter.com/AFLCMCofficial/status/1362058905346584578
The AT-6E Wolverine is a variant of the T-6 Texan II turboprop trainer already used by the USAF, Navy and US Army. This version is dedicated to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), light attack, counterinsurgency (COIN) and close air (CAS) missions.
The aircraft competes directly with the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, with which it competed in the Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance (LAAR) program for the acquisition of light attack aircraft for the USAF.
Last year the USAF announced the suspension of LAAR, but said it would acquire up to three A-29s and three AT-6s for various tests.
Wolverine has six wing stations for loading missiles, rockets, smart or conventional bombs and machine gun pods. In the fuselage, the AT-6E has one more station for installing a FLIR turret.
The AT-6E that the Air Force just received also has a prominent circular antenna on top of the nose, normally associated with satellite communication systems.
Another feature that draws attention is the paint scheme applied to the aircraft, reminiscent of the EuropeOne, used by USAFE (United States Air Forces in Europe) planes during the Cold War.
The USAF is also expected to acquire up to three units of the A-29 Super Tucano for the USAF Special Operations Command (AFSOC). The Super Tucanos would be employed by instructors (Combat Aviation Advisors) whose job is to train and advise military personnel from foreign air forces.
This work is already carried out, for example, in Afghanistan, where the A-29s are used by the local air force, with advice from the Americans, in the fight against Taliban forces.
AFSOC is also looking to acquire light attack aircraft through the Armed Overwatch program. The program's budget has been blocked by the US Congress, but AFSOC commander Lieutenant General James Slife is optimistic that lawmakers can be convinced to allocate money for this project in the next fiscal cycle.
