US Air Force could soon begin testing light attack aircraft to see if they’re a viable option for close-air support. The work is being led by Air Force Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation Office. The office will conduct experiments that include live exercises and simulation, and it will help senior Air Force leaders decide which technologies to fund.
“We’re bringing in vendors that have light attack airplanes and flying them against a series of test objectives,” said Jack Blackhurst, director of the office. The experiment is expected to run for about 135 days, and will help the service determine if light attack planes are a viable, low-cost option to supplement the A-10 Warthog. The Air Force has pushed back the retirement of the A-10s until at least 2022 following stiff opposition from Congress.
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