Above: The B-250 and EMB-314 Super Tucano share a similar appearance and the same designer, Joseph Kovacs.
This was the second aircraft at DAS17, which fl ew in the daily fl ying display. Right: Making its debut at DAS17: the
IOMAX Archangel Block 2. The most obvious enhancement is the larger L-3 Wescam MX-25 EO/IR turret, which will
allow the aircraft to prosecute targets from a greater distance.34 // JANUARY 2018 #358 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com
could allow for ten hours
with two crews on board.”
Morales continued: “We are
completing the critical design
review before the end of the
year. Ground tests, with all the
weapons underwing,
will take place
before summer
2018 and flight
test is expected
in October- Several
potential
several light attack aircraft [in
operational use in the region].
We have been told by potential
customers they are good, with
high-quality weapons but lack
endurance and ISR sensors.”
Airbus sought to define a
concept that would appeal
to a wide range of operators
by looking at US and non-
US options when selecting
armament for the C295.
Non-International Traffic in
Arms Regulations (ITAR) systems
are important to many potential
customers, highlighted by the
choice of weapons for the
pre-production phase of the
programme, on display in front of
the armed C295. They included
guided Mk40 and unguided Mk46
rockets and 2.75in (70mm) CAT-
70 rockets from Madrid-based
EXPAL, with a launcher designed
by Brazil’s Equipaer. Munitions
from Turkey’s Roketsan also
featured, in the form of the 2.75in
CIRIT laser-guided rocket and
L-UMTAS anti-tank missile. Both
are being used by the UAEAF&AD
on the IOMAX Archangel and
AT-802U. Another Roketsan
exhibit was the 500lb (227kg)
TEBER-82 laser-guided bomb.
“We heard from [potential]
customers that they want
some of these weapons and
were interested in working with
two of the providers, which
makes it easier for us,” Morales
continued. Gun options include
the 12.7mm M3D machine gun
and Rheinmetall BK27 auto-
cannon. “A 12.7mm M3D
machine gun has already been
integrated on a C295, which willbe delivered soon to a customer
in the Middle East,” he added.
“It’s fixed to the cargo hold and
can be installed in 30 minutes,
working with a Fully Integrated
Tactical System [FITS – the core
mission system]. The BK27
cannon has a range of up to 4km,
and is useful for heavier targets.”
Airbus has also studied
integration of the AGM-114
Hellfire and BAE Systems APKWS
(Advanced Precision Kill Weapon
System). The Royal Jordanian
Air Force (RJAF) wanted the
latter for its attack-configured
C295. However, that deal for two
aircraft, announced by Orbital
ATK and Jordan’s King Abdullah II
Design and Development Bureau
(KADDB) over two years ago,
appears to have foundered.
According to one observer,
the performance of the RJAF’sCN235 gunships delivered in
2014 hasn’t been as good as
expected. The limited endurance
with a full load of weapons is
thought to be one factor.
“As OEM [original equipment
manufacturer] and systems
integrator Airbus can certify the
complete package,” said Morales.
“This is a major requirement.
[Jordan] has previous experience
from other contracts, where they
didn’t know how the weapons
would affect the aircraft’s fatigue
life. That’s why they want the OEM
involved in the certification.” He
added: “The C295 can fly missions
up to ten hours, depending upon
weapons integration. The most
limiting configuration would be
16 L-UMTAS – four missiles on
four hardpoints – which will limit
endurance to between six and
nine hours. Other configurationsIntel
Report