{"id":59002,"date":"2017-08-08T22:35:56","date_gmt":"2017-08-08T22:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/08\/08\/industry-eyeing-opportunity-to-sell-light-attack-planes-tech-to-socom\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:22:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:22:53","slug":"industry-eyeing-opportunity-to-sell-light-attack-planes-tech-to-socom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2017\/08\/08\/industry-eyeing-opportunity-to-sell-light-attack-planes-tech-to-socom\/","title":{"rendered":"Industry eyeing opportunity to sell light attack planes, tech to SOCOM"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 Over the skies of Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, three industry teams are either preparing for or already engaged in a flight demonstration of their light attack planes, hoping to entice the Air Force into buying hundreds of new aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another sales opportunity could be quick on its heels. The Air Force and Special Operations Command (SOCOM) have noted an emerging opportunity to sell complementary light attack technology \u2014 or potentially additional aircraft \u2014 to the special operations community, and defense contractors are hungry to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-smg-jwplayer-video\"><atype-video-jwplayer nostick=\"true\" playlisturl=\"https:\/\/cdn.jwplayer.com\/v2\/playlists\/fCzRqMW8?tags=4d2ebcd4-e4f3-4bdd-8898-1dce5a172668\" aspectratio=\"16 \/ 9\" mute autostart=\"false\"><\/atype-video-jwplayer><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Air power off-the-shelf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a July 31 presolicitation published on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbo.gov\/index?s=opportunity&amp;mode=form&amp;id=83671072aade7a9aa707c6ec852cfd50&amp;tab=core&amp;_cview=0\">FedBizOpps.com<\/a>, the service indicated interest in pursuing \u201cplatform-agnostic light attack aircraft technologies relevant to a potential future SOF [special operations force] light attack mission and\/or emerging light attack platforms.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2017\/07\/19\/textron-sierra-nevada-prep-for-oa-x-experiment-at-us-air-force-base\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/170712-n-uz648-118.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Textron, Sierra Nevada prep for OA-X experiment at US Air Force base<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Participants in the Air Force\u2019s light-attack aircraft experiment are revving up training activities ahead of the beginning of the exercise next month at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The service plans on issuing a broad area announcement (BAA) in the near future to garner more information about \u201cspecific technological areas of interest,\u201d which are not named in the solicitation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Little information is currently available about the specific technologies that could be procured through the effort, currently called the Light Attack Support for Special Operations, or LASSO. However, representatives from all of the teams currently participating in the light attack experiment, also known as the OA-X demo, said they were closely following the opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe haven\u2019t learned a lot but we\u2019re certainly watching it,\u201d said Taco Gilbert, senior vice president for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for Sierra Nevada Corp., which has teamed with Embraer to offer the A-29 Super Tucano. \u201cAs we try to perceive what they would be looking for, we think the A-29 is a very attractive option.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The A-29 is facing off against three other planes during the OA-X experiment: the Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine turboprop and the Scorpion jet offered by Textron, as well as L3 and Air Tractor\u2019s AT-802L Longsword, a militarized version of the AT-802 cropduster.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2017\/07\/31\/air-tractor-and-l3-join-oa-x-experiment-with-the-at-802l-longsword\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/LS-takeoff.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Air Tractor and L3 join OA-X experiment with the AT-802L Longsword<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Air Force kicked off a demonstration of light attack aircraft on Monday as two companies \u2014 L3 and Air Tractor \u2014 made a last-minute announcement that they would participate in the experiment.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe are excited about it and we are eager to find out what specifically they are looking for,\u201d Tom Menker, Air Tractor\u2019s business development and government affairs representative, told Defense News in an Aug. 8 interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf they are looking for an aircraft that has the ability to add new systems quickly [and] effectively, an aircraft that has the space to integrate new sensors by virtue of the hard points we have [and] by virtue of the internal space we have to add new subsystems [and] new avionics, we feel very well positioned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bill Harris, Textron\u2019s vice president of Scorpion jet sales, also expressed interest in the opportunity, but noted that not much is known about what kinds of capabilities the Air Force and SOCOM are looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019ll continue to monitor it,\u201d he said Aug. 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The original solicitation notes that LASSO is separate and distinct from the Air Force\u2019s light attack experiment. In comments to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/13287\/usaf-says-spec-ops-light-attack-program-will-complement-larger-oa-x-effort\">The War Zone<\/a>, Brian Brackens, an Air Force spokesman at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, described LASSO as a \u201ccomplementary\u201d effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe light attack experiment focuses on the light attack platform,\u201d he said. \u201cLight attack support for special ops focuses on platform agnostic capabilities (i.e. sensors, munitions &amp; mission systems) that may be compatible with any light attack platform.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Brackens specified that SOCOM was not interested in developing its own light attack aircraft apart from the OA-X effort. However, that does not preclude SOCOM from joining an Air Force OA-X buy, should the service decide to start a program of record.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2017\/01\/18\/us-air-force-chief-lends-support-to-light-attack-aircraft-buy\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"215\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/goldfein.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US Air Force Chief Lends Support to Light Attack Aircraft Buy<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The Air Force\u2019s top general on Wednesday indicated he would be supportive of purchasing low-end attack aircraft to ease the pressure on state-of-the-art fighters deployed to the Middle East.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If LASSO turns out to be a search only for equipment that can be incorporated on light attack aircraft, that could be a boon for L3 Technologies. As the prime contractor and lead systems integrator on the Longsword, it is responsible for weaponizing the AT-802. Part of that role includes outfitting it with new sensors and weapon systems, many of which are of its own design, like its Wescam MX-15 electro-optical infrared sensor and ForceX mission management system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLASSO is meant to be platform agnostic, but the idea of being able to propose the kinds of systems that are being developed on Longsword and within other pursuits that we\u2019ve done is certainly there,\u201d said Pat Penland, L3\u2019s vice president of transport programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the past decade, the U.S. military has had an on-and-off interest in light attack platforms, beginning with the Navy\u2019s Imminent Fury demonstration in the late 2000s, where Navy special operators flew the A-29 \u2014 a fact noted by Sierra Nevada Corp.\u2019s Gilbert. That effort was then expanded into the Combat Dragon II exercise, which saw the Navy testing the OV-10 Bronco in the Middle East. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein has called Combat Dragon II the forerunner of the current light attack aircraft experiment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the Air Force has no program of record in place to buy an OA-X platform, the ongoing experiments are meant to help service officials gauge whether an inexpensive, off-the-shelf aircraft could be utilized in the Middle East in lieu of fighter jets, which have a much higher operating cost and are oftentimes overly sophisticated for the counter-terrorism mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Special operators \u2014 who oftentimes work in more austere conditions than conventional forces \u2014 are a natural customer for the kinds of platforms participating in the OA-X experiment, most of which are optimized to conduct close-air-support missions cheaply in places where runways might not be available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe work a lot with our special operators and we know the types of attributes, generally, they look for in their equipment,\u201d Gilbert said. \u201cIt needs to be versatile. It needs to be rugged. It needs to be dependable and sustainable and low cost because our special operations forces frequently operate on a little bit of a shoestring, and we think that the A-29 offers those capabilities as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps unsurprisingly, the other participants made similar statements about their own products.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Air Force and Special Operations Command (SOCOM) have noted an emerging opportunity to sell complimentary light attack technology \u2014 or potentially additional aircraft \u2014 to the special operations community, and defense contractors are hungry to learn 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By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Industry eyeing opportunity to sell light attack planes, tech to SOCOM - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Air Force and Special Operations Command (SOCOM) have noted an emerging opportunity to sell complimentary light attack technology \u2014 or potentially additional aircraft \u2014 to the special operations community, and defense contractors are hungry to learn more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Industry eyeing opportunity to sell light attack planes, tech to SOCOM\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Air Force and Special 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