Aircraft
Hawker Beechcraft Protests Exclusion of AT-6 from U.S. Light Air Support Contest
The U.S. Air Force has apparently chosen the Embraer Super Tucano to meet the Light Air Support (LAS)
The Hawker Beechcraft AT-6 (shown in formation with a T-6C) has apparently lost out to the Embraer Super Tucano in the U.S. Air Force Light Air Support contest. (Photo: Hawker Beechcraft)
The Hawker Beechcraft AT-6 (shown in formation with a T-6C) has apparently lost out to the Embraer Super Tucano in the U.S. Air Force Light Air Support contest. (Photo: Hawker Beechcraft)

The U.S. Air Force has apparently chosen the Embraer Super Tucano to meet the Light Air Support (LAS) requirement. Hawker Beechcraft’s AT-6 was the other contender. No official announcement has yet been made, but Hawker Beechcraft said it received a letter from the USAF that excluded the AT-6 from the hotly contested competition. The company is protesting the decision to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

The LAS competition was designed to produce an alternative to jet combat aircraft for counter-insurgency operations. The Air Force planned to buy 15 aircraft for a training school at Eglin AFB, Fla., but had not confirmed plans to equip any of its own squadrons.