The American company Sierra Nevada Corporation presented the MC-145B Wily Coyote combat aircraft. As he writes The Drive, it is based on the Polish PZL M28 Skytruck and can carry AGM-144 missiles, GBU-39/B aerial bombs, small drones and other ammunition.
The US Special Operations Command announced the Armed Overwatch program last year. Its task is to select and buy about 75 light attack aircraft for aviation support, targeted strikes and reconnaissance missions by 2022. The military plans to replace the U-28 Draco multi-purpose turboprop aircraft with new aircraft.
In May, the military decided on five companies that will build prototypes for the program. Among them were Leidos, MAG Aerospace, Textron Aviation, L-3 Communications and Sierra Nevada Corporation. If successful, the project can get a contract from the government for production.
Sierra Nevada Corporation showed its concept of a light attack aircraft to The Drive edition. The MC-145B Wily Coyote aircraft is based on the Polish PZL M28 Skytruck. The M28 is a modified aircraft with a shortened take - off and landing. Its length is 13.1 meters, the wingspan is 22.06 meters, and the maximum take-off weight is 7.5 thousand kilograms. It can fly up to 1481 kilometers with equipment weighing up to a thousand kilograms. The practical duration of the M28 flight is from five to ten hours. It is designed for 19 passengers.
The Wily Coyote is a twin-engine turboprop aircraft with an elongated nose, under which there is a sensor turret. Another turret is located under the fuselage. Four suspension points are installed under the wings of the aircraft. From the Polish M28, it has preserved the rear loading ramp. On its tail, several diagonal white lines are drawn, like those of the aircraft of the first assault team of the US Air Force during operations in China, Myanmar and India during World War II.
The aircraft can carry AGM-144 and APKWS missiles, as well as GBU-39/B aircraft bombs . It can also be adapted to launch other precision-guided munitions and small drones, including the GBU-69/B adjustable miniature gliding bombs, AGM-176 Griffin missiles and Coyote drones . At the same time, the Wily Coyote is also suitable for observation missions without weapons.
Compared to the developments of other companies participating in the Armed Overwatch program, Wily Coyote is the largest. MAG Aerospace offers the military its MC-208 Guardian based on the nine-seat passenger single-engine Cessna 208 Cavaran, and the other three companies — two-seat turboprop light attack aircraft.
Air support can be provided not only by light attack aircraft, but also by deck drones. Earlier it was written that such devices should appear in the US Marine Corps by 2025.
Vasilisa Chernyavtseva