Cost, Capability, and the Hunt for a Lightweight Ground Attack Aircraft

Abstract

Since 2001, U.S. Air Force fighter aircraft have flown combat sorties with abnormally high flight durations while participating in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. These longer sortie durations have added previously unanticipated flight time to aging airframes, thereby reducing the expected service life of the U.S. Air Force's legacy fighter fleet. This study examines the costs and benefits of fielding a propeller-driven lightweight ground attack aircraft to support air operations in counterinsurgency and stability operations. Fielding a lightweight ground attack aircraft would enable the U.S. Air Force to redeploy the bulk of its legacy fighter fleet to home stations to resume noncontingency operations. This would effectively reduce annual flight times and extend expected service life. The study will use a literature review to determine the expected economic impact, combat capability, survivability, and potential roles and missions relative to fielding a lightweight ground attack aircraft.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 12, 2009
Accession Number
ADA510947

Entities

People

  • Steven J. Tittel

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Military Aviation
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Precision-Guided Munitions
  • Tactical Aircraft
  • Tanker Aircraft
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Warning Systems
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.
  • Systems Analysis and Design