US Air Force Seeks Bids to Build 300 Low-Cost Light Attack Aircraft

The US Air Force has invited defense contractors to demonstrate their air-frames, modified to Air Force specifications, for a new light attack aircraft to be rapidly produced and fielded at a rate of 40, 50 per year for 6 years, a bid solicitation revealed.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The Air Force promised to assess the military utility of light-attack platforms that will be cheap enough to procure, operate, and sustain for the military service branch's future structure.

"[Contractors should] describe how production quantities, lot buys could be structured in lots of 40-50 aircraft for a total buy of up to 300 aircraft to be delivered within six years from a production decision," the solicitation explained on Friday.

The specifications for the aircraft indicate that it will have two crew members, infrared sensors and self-protection flares. It must be configured to carry two 500 pound bombs and be armed with forward firing guns holding at least 400 rounds armed with a minimum of 400 rounds.

The light attack aircraft must be designed for austere field operations, according to the specifications. That means an airfield that has a short runway, is in remote locations and lacks standard taxiway systems, navigation aids, weather observing sensors and communications systems.

Brazil's Embraer Super Tucano, also known as the A-29B, appears to be a leading candidate.  In 2013 Embraer won a $427 million contract from the Department of Defense to provide the light attack aircraft to the Afghanistan military.

The A-29B, piloted by Afghan pilots trained in the United States, have flown the aircraft in support of counterinsurgency operation in Afghanistan.