USAF contracts light-strike aircraft to further LAE experiment

The US Air Force (USAF) has placed contracts with the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and Textron to further its Light Attack Experiment (LAE).

Seen here in Afghan service, the Super Tucano is one of two light strike platforms along with the AT-6B Wolverine that the USAF is buying in limited numbers to continue its LAE experiment. (438th Air Expeditionary Wing)

Contracts for two SNC-Embraer A-29 Super Tucano and two Textron AT-6 Wolverine light attack turboprop aircraft were placed in early- and mid-March respectively. While Textron announced its contract was valued at USD70.2 million, SNC did not disclosed a value for its award.

News of the awards came about five months after the USAF announced in October 2019 that it would buy a “limited number” of turboprop aircraft to satisfy the current phase of its LAE programme. As noted by the service at the time, the Super Tucanos will be used at Hurlburt Field in Florida by Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) to develop an instructor pilot programme for the Combat Aviation Advisory mission to meet increased partner nation requests for light attack assistance. The Wolverines will be used by Air Combat Command (ACC) at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) in Nevada for continued testing and development of operational tactics and standards for exportable, tactical networks that improve interoperability with international partners.