Zarvan
ELITE MEMBER
- Joined
- Apr 28, 2011
- Messages
- 54,470
- Reaction score
- 87
- Country
- Location
The latest two Super Tucanos for the Afghan Air Force have been delivered to Moody AFB in Georgia, where they will be used for pilot and maintainer training. Source: DVIDS
The Afghan Air Force (AAF) has received a further two Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC)–Embraer A-29 Super Tucano light-attack turboprops to add to the 20 already delivered.
The new aircraft were delivered to Moody Air Force Base (AFB) in Georgia where they joined the seven that are being used by the 81st Fighter Squadron to train AAF pilots and maintainers ahead of redeployment back to Kabul. These latest aircraft are the first two of a batch of six additional Super Tucanos that was announced in October 2017.
Announced on 1 May, the arrival of the latest aircraft brings to 19 the total now fielded by the AAF (one of the 20 delivered was lost in a US-based training accident and is yet to be replaced). Of these, 12 are currently in-country providing air support to Afghan ground forces.
Powered by a single 1,600 SHP Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68/3 turboprop engine, the Super Tucano carries two 12.7 mm machine guns (200 rounds each) in the wings, and can be configured with additional underwing weaponry such as 20 mm cannon pods, additional 12.7 mm machine guns, rocket pods, precision-guided munitions, and/or ‘dumb’ bombs of up to 1,500 kg.
Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options at ihs.com/contact
To read the full article, Client Login
(219 of 255 words)
http://www.janes.com/article/79736/afghan-air-force-receive-latest-super-tucano-shipment