Hawker Beechcraft Corporation provided an update on its Beechcraft AT-6 light attack aircraft program at the NBAA Convention in Orlando on October 20.
The company has been flying an AT-6 demonstrator version of its T-6 advanced trainer with a view to selling the aircraft to the US and other countries as an economical light attack/counter insurgency aircraft/armed reconnaissance aircraft, and has recently completed preliminary flight envelope investigations and initial integration of an EO/IR sensor.
A second prototype is currently under construction and is scheduled to fly early next year, and will be fitted with a more powerful PT6A-68/10 engine.
Offered by Raytheon in Australia, the AT-6 is likely to be considered as a replacement for the RAAF’s PC-9/As currently operated by 4SQN in the Forward Air Control (FAC) training role at RAAF Base Williamtown.
