{"id":55604,"date":"2017-09-21T15:37:38","date_gmt":"2017-09-21T15:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/09\/21\/light-isr-the-air-forces-next-experiment\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:07:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:07:53","slug":"light-isr-the-air-forces-next-experiment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/air-force-association\/2017\/09\/21\/light-isr-the-air-forces-next-experiment\/","title":{"rendered":"Light ISR: The Air Force\u2019s next experiment?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. \u2014 The Air Force is considering whether to press forward with a demonstration of inexpensive, off-the-shelf light intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft that could complement a potential light attack plane buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service completed a demonstration of four light attack planes at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, in August. During the demonstration, Textron\u2019s Scorpion aircraft caught the attention of Gen. Mike Holmes, head of Air Combat command, because its modular design allows for a wide package of sensors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, Holmes said, some in the service are now intrigued by the idea of hosting a similar demonstration focused on ISR capabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you look at some of the airplanes we flew, there are airplanes that have kind of been built with great big internal bays where you could carry a whole variety of sensors, so it\u2019s an intriguing possibility for Scorpion,\u201d Holmes told reporters during a Sept. 18 roundtable at the Air Force Association\u2019s annual conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more coverage of the Air Force Association annual conference here!<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s got extra power and cooling and things. Might we want to use that airplane to experiment with different payloads that are proposed by industry, and might that be a follow-on experiment?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No decisions have been made on whether to start a light ISR aircraft experiment, but Holmes said Air Force leaders are considering whether an off-the-shelf plane might be able to take on more of the surveillance mission in permissive environments at a lower cost than platforms like the unmanned MQ-9 Reaper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should the Air Force decide to move forward with an experiment, it would open up the process to other potential industry participants, said Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, the service\u2019s top uniformed acquisition officer.<\/p>\n\n\n\t