Textron AirLand sees opportunities for its developmental Scorpion aircraft in Australia and Southeast Asia.
Textron believes that Canberra could be on the verge of issuing a request for proposals for an electronic warfare training jet, says Tom Webster, who heads sales for the US company in the Asia-Pacific.
The requirement would be small, for about three aircraft, and would likely see Textron team with a local partner. Textron also believes that Canberra would not obtain the aircraft itself, but rather outsource the work to industry partners, possibly on a “pay by the hour” basis.
The aircraft would be used to run simulated sorties against Australian air, sea, and ground forces.
“The Scorpion’s payload means that it can serve well in the adversary role,” says Webster.
This role is currently performed by Raytheon Australia operating LearJet aircraft.
Textron has also held discussions with Southeast Asian nations, who see an opportunity to use Scorpion as an armed reconnaissance platform to monitor exclusive economic zones, or as an intermediate jet trainer.
One advantage Textron feels the Scorpion brings to the reconnaissance mission is the speed at which it can get to the target. While sprinting to a target zone, sensitive equipment such as electro-optical/infrared pods can be pulled up into the aircraft’s payload bay, shielding costly sensor from the elements when not in use.
Textron has produced two Scorpions, a prototype and a production aircraft that had its first flight in December 2016.
Textron has yet to secure its first order for the type. It hopes to bring Scorpion to the Singapore air show in early 2018.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
