Alan Warnes considers the role of the light combat aircraft and assesses those available today.
Intel Report
Boeing, in partnership with Saab, has won the US Air Force’s $9.2bn T-X trainer contract – and it’s almost certain the deal will lead to more than the initial 351 jets required.
Other air arms are likely to follow America’s lead, particularly since economies of scale mean the aircraft could cost less than $20m apiece. The T-X could also be a game-changer if it’s developed as a light combat aircraft (LCA). Indeed, Boeing/Saab may already be working on initial LCA concepts.
Developing an LCA from an existing trainer has become an established pattern, but T-X could change the landscape dramatically, with a potential LCA option likely to undercut the cost of any Western competitors. If Boeing/ Saab follow this template, aircraft in their crosshairs will include the FA-50 offered by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and the Leonardo M-346FA, both derived from losing entrants in the T-X competition.
Early LCAs
In the UK, an LCA antecedent evolved from a jet trainer when the Hunting Jet Provost T5 spawned the BAC 167 Strikemaster in the 1960s. Although limited by its side-by-side seating arrangement, 146 …
