US-based Textron aims to refine the concept of using cheap and rugged propeller-driven aircraft to defend against waves of long-range kamikaze UAVs by adapting the AT-6 Wolverine trainer/light attack aircraft.
Ukraine and Russia have started utilising civilian light aircraft intended for civilian service to intercept UAVs in addition to the ground-based practices. These improvised C-UAS aircraft, armed with machine guns or air-to-air missiles, have limitations when it comes to capacity and the presence of suitable sensors.
Textron aims to address these issues with an aircraft with a military-standard array of avionics, sensors, and capacity for weapons.
Current weaponry of AT-6 suitable for C-UAS includes machine gun pods and the AGR-20A APKWS II laser-guided rockets, which have proven themselves more cost-effective than dedicated anti-air missiles for C-UAS. APKWS II has already secured its place in the US as one of the main C-UAS weapons with the recent large-scale order from the USMC and the Army.
The aircraft might also be integrated with AGM-179 JAGM air-to-surface missile, which is a successor to the AGM-114 Hellfire missile with C-UAS capabilities for two-way engagement against both UAVs and armoured surface targets.
Outside of low-cost weapons and operating costs, aircraft like AT-6 have considerably more flexible runway requirements in terms of length and preparation, allowing a greater freedom of deployment at the frontlines.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
