A pair of AT-6 Wolverine demonstrators. Textron
The War Zone/The Drive: USAF Says It Could Speed Up Buying Light Attack Aircraft, But Doesn't Have an Actual Plan
Senior officials explain ways they could begin buying the planes before 2020, but still have yet to firm up any actual requirements.
As the U.S. Air Force plods along with its light attack aircraft experiment, commonly known as OA-X, the service is reportedly looking for ways to speed up the process and begin buying actual airplanes. At the same time, senior officials have given somewhat contradictory descriptions of the project’s present status and, more importantly, have indicated that there are still no formal requirements in place for this type of aircraft.
On March 14, 2018, during a hearing before the Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson told members of Congress that it might be possible to reprogram funds in order to speed up purchases of light attack aircraft. The month before, she had revealed plans to set aside $2.4 billion in spending over the next five years for the program, but this wouldn’t begin until at least the 2020 fiscal year.
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WNU Editor: They U.S. Air Force makes no secret that thy have lots of plans on what to do with the F-35, F-22, a new bomber, drones, a futue sixth-generation fighter, and nuclear missiles .... all projects that involve tens of billions of dollars. But when it comes to smaller projects that involve small budgets and less glamorous planes .... but planes that actually win the war on the ground. The Pentagon is awol. On a positive note .... at least the US Air Force is admitting that they do not have a plan.
