Forum: Air Power

The proposed Boeing OV-10(X) could carry a lot more than 2x 500lb bombs. It can carry 7 if it wanted to. I would imagine that in a convoy protection role it would mount the 20mm (or 30mm) turret in the belly and act as a mini-Spooky.

Think of this loadout.

2.75" pod on the left wing (19 laser guided rounds)
5" pod on the right wing (4 laser guided rounds, yes they are in development)
6x JAGMs on the outer shoulder stations using the fast jet triple rack instead of the helicopter quad rack to allow clearance for the 20mm turret.
2x SDBII in the inner shoulder stations
20mm turret in the centerline station
4x 50cal machine guns built into the shoulders

I'd like to see any Super T, AT-6, etc try that much stuff.

http://www.ov-10bronco.net/Technical/bo ... 009_01.pdf

--edit--

Imagine this. Add to the 20mm turret a 7x 2.57" pod but still have it on a turret. Load it up with laser guided rounds and watch it circle the battlefield sniping all targets it could find. Give it the ability to reload the pod in flight (thanks to the cargo area in the rear) and you can have a serious affect on the battle.

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Last edited by discofishing on Dec 09, 2010 - 01:00 AM; edited 1 time in total

Check this out...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_VoabGNCjIxg/S ... -proto.jpg

Lets see a single engine proposal pull that off!

I know the USAF and the military in general is facing tighter budgets these days, but we need to either go big or go home as far as the COIN bird is concerned. The troops deserve at least that. Too much is "half-a$$ full throttle" these days when it comes to fielding military hardware. The OV-10X (quit thinking OV-10D!!!!!!!) looks like the best answer. The Tucano or Texan II with weapons just won't be as good. If the brass wants one of those LESSER single engine aircraft and wants something on the cheap, then they might as well pull more A-10s out of AMARG. Hogs have been handling COIN missions well as far as I'm concerned.

Some stuff that I'd like to see the X-Ray Bronco carry is the Hellfire, Maverick, GBU-12s and -38s, .50 cal's, and have a sensor ball on par with what either the Predator or Reaper carry (either sensor pod is very capable). That way, the OV-10X could also act as an ISR platform when it's not flying a COIN mission. It could also self-designate, OR "Buddy Lase" for other strikers in a standoff role.

From the looks of the OV-10X pic up there, it appears that the Super Bronco will indeed have a sensor pod, and carry some of the "Gucci" GPS and Laser-guided munitions that are out on the market right now.

...and as I was typing, I actually stumbled upon this info card from Boeing. It looks as though it will carry many of the things we were just talking about.

http://www.ov-10bronco.net/Technical/bo ... 009_01.pdf

I've read the operational capabilities of the proposed new OV-10 and still find it hard to believe that the bird has a 30,000 service ceiling. And if so with what weapons. Sounds kind of they are padding the actual perdformance envelope a bit to me.

TC
Did you get my note in the "What the Hell happened " thread???

Snake

Just found it Snake! My reply should help you get the message posted.

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As for the 30K. That does seem high. I doubt that they'd ever need to fly that high for the type of mission that they'll be performing anyway. The Bronco needs to be flying down in the weeds.

With better engines and a new 5 bladed prop the OV-10(X) should be able to get up pretty high.

Spud

I'm not talking directly about its capability to get that high (but I still question that). I'm talking about maneuvering at the higher mountainous areas for a dumb bomb delivery or jinking, etc, etc.

Snake

Maybe it's getting larger control surfaces?

Interesting that the Bronco is so highly thought of when the A-37 flies higher and faster with a bigger useful payload and is a less vulnerable platform. Wouldn't you think the A-37 would be able to drop ordnance and steer back into position for a second drop much quicker than the OV-10?

Theoretically, it probably would. But, if this competition comes down to any two aircraft, it would likely be the Super Bronco, or the attack variant of the Tex II.

I doubt you'll be seeing these aircraft drop much stupid ordnance, if any at all.

The A-37 has a problem with FOV, IMHO, as the wings block the view from the sides. Also, each crewmember cannot see to the opposite side. In the OV-10(X) the crew has an unobstructed view.

Add to that the OV-10(X)'s unique ability to mount a turreted weapon on the belly and it's cargo ability makes it more of a multirole COIN platform.

Salute!

You are right, Spud.

The A-37 was worthless on a right-hand pattern, as we sat in the left seat.

Cessna proposed a "C" model that had the seat centerline with an option for a rear seat. Also had fan motors versus the J-85's. Also had a centerline 20mm or .50 cal gatling gun.

As much as I like the Bronco, I relegate it to FAC and battlefield recce. Can't carry much, can't take battle damage, can't go 300 knots, can't .........

Gums sends...

GUYS, GUYS, GUYS!!!!!!

Putting a turret mounted gun on this querstionably surviveable aircraft brings it down into the hand held SAM and medium weapons.

Gums

Cessna also developed a E model of the 37. A two seater (Tandem) with the same configuration you offered and 6 wing stations.

Snake

I am a little confused as to why you would say a few things.

Code:

Spec...............OV-10(X)   A-37B

Load...............3200lb      2700lb

Max Range..........1382mi      920mi

Loiter time........6.2 hrs      ?

Keep in mind that with max ext fuel, the OV-10 can still mount 4 external hardpoints and has 4x 50 cal machineguns in the sponson locations. The overriding reason that they want a turboprop, IMHO, is the loiter time. It's hard to beat 6 hours and still have a decent warload.

I won't argue the damage part as I have no data on that, but I think that if they mount the Terma AMASE pod to the outer sponson. The pod contains a complete MANPAD detection & protection system that includes flares and a DIRCM.

http://aviationweek.typepad.com/ares/20 ... _dirc.html

Quote:

The AMASE system includes the AN/ALQ-213(V) computer-based integrated Electronic Warfare Management System, missile warning systems and flare dispensers. An advanced version being tested by the US Army incorporates the Northrop Grumman AN/AAQ-24(V) Nemesis Directional Infra-Red Countermeasures (DIRCM).

As a side note, they would have to develop some kind of retractable FLIR turret for the A-37 in order to use PGMs as it sits too low to the ground for a permanent one.

Spud

Loiter time doesn't mean squat if you can't survive and the old OV lost 64 out of 157 to small arms fire and Hand Held Sams in Vietnam. Besides that the more you load onto the aircraft the more the performance is affected. In that regard I would want to know what was the configuration (external and internal) to get those results.

Snake

Forum: Air Power

The USAF is seeking a COIN aircraft design