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

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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 counter insurgency and stability operations. Fielding a lightweight ground attack aircraft could enable the U.S. Air Force to redeploy the bulk of its legacy fighter fleet to home stations and resume non-contingency operations. This would effectively reduce annual flight times and thereby extend expected service life. This study will use a document review to determine the expected economic impact, combat capability, survivability, and potential roles and missions relative to fielding a lightweight ground attack aircraft.