USAF looks at ‘light’ ISR options

AS A follow-on to its Light Attack Experiment (OA-X) held at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, in August, the USAF is exploring use of a ‘light’ intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft in forthcoming combat trials. Two of the four aircraft types from the OA-X evaluation are expected to undertake in-theatre trials as part of the Combat Dragon III demonstration next year. Gen Mike Holmes, chief of Air Combat Command, has suggested the Textron AirLand Scorpion could fulfil the low-cost ISR