The identity of the fourth light attack aircraft to participate in the US Air Force’s OA-X (observation attack experimental) experiment held at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico in July and August was announced on July 31. The L3 Communications Air Tractor AT-802L Longsword turboprop joined Textron’s Scorpion jet and the AT-6 Wolverine turboprop and the Embraer- Sierra Nevada A-29 Super Tucano to fly a range of missions under simulated combat conditions, including delivery of live ordnance.
While known that the Air Force had originally aimed to have four different off-the-shelf production-ready designs flying in the OA-X experiment, the announcement of the Longsword’s participation was a surprise. Longsword, modified from an agricultural aircraft, lacked some of the characteristics the Air Force requested in its invitation to participate in the experiment, including an ejection seat. Kenya has ordered 12 AT- 802Ls. Earlier versions of the AT-802 have been used in combat in Yemen and Libya by the United Arab Emirates.
It was also announced that US Special Operations Command would be playing a role in the OA-X experiment as part of its Light Air Support for Special Operations programme.
While the Air Force did not request any procurement funding for an OA-X in its FY2018 budget request submitted earlier this year, and only $8 million in research and development funding, the Senate Armed Service Committee included $1.2 billion in procurement funding for the programme in its version of the FY2018 Defence Authorisation Bill. Should this provision become law, it could enable a rapid transition to OA-X production. David C Isby