Hawker Beechcraft Corp. has started work on a second development attack version of its T-6 trainer and expects to complete by year’s end initial flight testing of the first prototype for USAF’s new Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance aircraft, according to a company release. USAF wants to achieve initial operating capability in 2013. HBC executive Jim Maslowski likened the company’s approach with LAAR to its work on Project Liberty Aircraft (see More Liberty Aircraft on the Way), saying, “We are listening carefully to the warfighter and, together with our partners at Lockheed Martin, we are creating high-end capabilities in a low-cost, low-risk aircraft.” Potential competitors for the planned 100-aircraft LAAR program include Embraer’s Super Tucano, reportedly already under consideration by the US Navy for special operations missions, and Alenia’s M346, which Flight Global reports is also a T-38 replacement contender.
The U.S. military is sending more fighter jets to the Middle East to step up its war with Iran, adding to what is already the largest buildup of airpower in the region since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. For now, the operation shows little sign of coming to a quick…