AT-6B, USA

Light Attack Aircraft / Trainer

Introduction

The AT-6 design allows for advanced training with weapons delivery
capabilities and the ability to conduct actual operational missions with the
same platform.

Through the addition of open architecture avionics, state-of-the-art

sensors, data links, cockpit and aircraft protection components and various
weapons capabilities to the proven training platform, the Beechcraft AT-6B
provides multi mission capability on a low-cost platform.

The multirole, multi mission system is designed for net-centric intelligence,

surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and light precision attack missions.

HBC showcased the AT-6 at the Royal International Air Tattoo and

Design

The aircraft uses a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop engine which
provides a flat rated 1,100hp (820kW).

The AT-6 is fitted with cockpit and engine armour for increased aircraft
protection.

An infra-red countermeasures suite can include the AN/AAR-47 missile approach

warning system and ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser system.

In addition to UHF / VHF / UHF and SATCOM, communication systems can include,
enhanced position location and reporting system (EPLARS), joint tactical
information distribution system (JTIDS) and situation awareness data link (SADL).

Avionics

The AT-6B fully integrated avionics system uses two powerful mission
computers to control weapons deliveries and other mission related functions.

Integrated navigation and mission data is displayed on the large, 25 total field
of view (TFOV) head-up display (HUD) and on three high-fidelity 5in7in
multifunction displays (MFDs).

The primary flight display (PFD) provides the controls and displays required to
manage and present primary flight information to the pilots including attitude,
airspeed, altitude and flight path direction.

The tactical situation display (TSD) enhances situational awareness by

presenting a scalable plan view of the key elements required for terminal, en
route, area and tactical navigation.

Weapons

The AT-6B is equipped with a sensor suite that can include a variety of electro-optical,
infra-red, laser and hyper-spectral sensors, for example the Wescam MX-15Di.

There are six wing-mounted hard points for stores.

AT-6 can be armed with a variety of weapons including 0.50 caliber machine gun
pods, air-to-ground missiles like Hellfire and Maverick, AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air
missiles, munitions including Pave way II / enhanced Pave way II / Pave way IV guided
bombs, joint direct attack munition (JDAM), small diameter bombs (SDB) and 2.75in
rocket pods.

Griffin is an air and ground launched precision guided missile which enables the AT-6
to lock targets through a simple graphic user interface.

Cockpit

The Beechcraft AT-6 is integrated with CMC Electronics' glass Cockpit 4000
avionics suite and has the same cockpit design as that of the T-6B.

The open, flexible and redundant architecture offers an integrated

approach for cockpit and weapon system management.

The avionics suite includes primary flight, engine and navigation displays,
flight management systems, global positioning systems, head-up displays,
navigation and mission processors, multifunction displays and control
panels.

There are tandem HOTAS (hands on throttle and stick) controls fore and aft
for pilot and instructor.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_T-6_Texan_II

http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/at-6b-light-attack/

https://www.beechcraft.com/military/light_attack.aspx

http://www.lockheedmartin.co.in/us/mst/features/110217-at-6takes-light-attack-back-to-the-future-.html

http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/light-attack-aircraftthe-super-tucano-the-at-6-and-the-blue-kool-aid/

Thank You