New push for USAF COIN aircraft

http://www.janes.com/news/defence/triservice/jdw/jdw090724_1_n.shtml

US military considers new counter-insurgency aircraft unit

By Caitlin Harrington

24 July 2009

Senior US defence officials say they believe the time has come to create new air commando units to fight counter-insurgencies.

Questions about the size and capabilities of the force will be addressed in the Obama administration’s upcoming Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR).

Michael Vickers, the leading civilian in charge of co-ordinating US military special operations, told reporters on 23 July that he believes there is a need for new light air capabilities for strike, reconnaissance and mobility that would be optimised for counter-insurgency (COIN) operations.

“I think there is a need for that kind of capability and it’s being looked at in the QDR,” he said. The review is a strategy document mandated by Congress for release every four years and the Obama administration is expected to release its QDR in Fiscal Year 2010.

I like this and also believe its something the RAF should invest in. Why bother sending in Tornado’s and harriers when something like the Embraer EMB 314 Super Tucano, can do the same job or better at much less of a cost. I know the US looked at this before with the Piper PA-48 Enforcer.

So my suggestion is that the RAF shoudl look into producing a some under the license we have already. Lets put together a squadron of 12 and get them over to Afghanistan.