A-67 (aircraft)

The A-67 is a military aircraft currently being developed by US Aircraft Corporation in Akron, Ohio. The A-67 is a COIN and ISR Aircraft that meets many of the needs of the USAF and 2nd and 3rd World Allied Countries. The A-67 is a low cost aircraft built for low intensity conflict situations.In the words of Dr. Wray R. Johnson (USAF, Ret.), "In many cases, a 'low-tech' approach has proven to be a highly useful and cost-effective means of employing airpower in counter-insurgency and counter terrorism operations." In recent years, the need for low cost solutions for low intensity conflict has dramatically increased worldwide. Christopher Bolkcom, a researcher for the Congressional Research Service stated before a Senate subcommittee, "Most would agree that DOD still requires advanced tactical aircraft to deter and fight tomorrow's conventional conflicts. However, many argue that the efforts and resources expended to develop and produce the F/A 22, JSF, and F/A-18E/F are not balanced with current and foreseeable conventional military challenges." In the 1991 "Desert Storm" air campaign, Close Air Support (CAS) accounted for only 8% of all combat sorties; in the 1999 in Operation "Allied Forces" (the Kosovo War) CAS missions supporting friendly forces accounted for 26% of the 21,111 combat sorties flown; a proportion more than three times higher than in 1991. In Operation "Iraqi Freedom," 79% of all combat sorties were CAS; almost ten times the proportion of CAS of the 1991 air campaign. Since that time, continuing air operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have been largely devoted to CAS, in the context of counter-insurgency operations that moreover require a particular kind of CAS, with high persistence over possible targets but small ordnance loads. That diminishes the relative utility of the only specialized CAS aircraft already in use, the A-10 and SU-23, which are both very large twin jets. They are too big, too fast, and lack in endurance to successfully detect and attack the elusive and transient low-contrast insurgents encountered in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world. Armed helicopters are even better to detect and attack elusive targets, but their vulnerability is now so high that in practice they are used less and less--the entire category is becoming obsolete. US Aircraft Corporation has taken into account these recent studies and analyses in developing and modifying its A-67 to meet current needs at home and abroad. The A-67 has been developed to fulfill COIN and ISR missions in general, as well as for advanced training, thus reducing the costs associated with two or more distinct types of aircraft. This is the all-weather, rugged, STOL, long-endurance, and fuel efficient capable aircraft for today's challenges.
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