SOCOM big buy & Vertex?

WASHINGTON – The global market for aircraft trainers is flat; and almost non-existent for light attack aircraft. With the announcement from the U.S. Special Operations Command’s upcoming Armed Overwatch buy is likely to be fierce. In the long run,“75 planes is a lot in this market,” Richard Aboulafia, aviation analyst at Teal Group, told Breaking Defense. SOCOM has budgeted $106M in 2021 to buy the first five of the aircraft to perform close air support for its troops on the ground, light attack and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The planes would also replace Air Force Special Operations Command’s current fleet of U-28 Draco aircraft. The program is slated to hold a prototype demonstration late in 2020, but that timeline may be slipping because of the COVID-19 pandemic. At least four manufacturing teams have confirmed participation in the contest: Sierra Nevada-Embraer; Textron Aviation Defense; Air Tractor; and Leidos. Textron is hawking its AT-6 with low cost maintenance. Newcomer Leidos, argues that its Bronco II has the advantage of being designed specifically with the SOCOM in mind. Leidos is partnering with the US arm of South African defense conglomerate Paramount Group, and aftermarket service provider Vertex Aerospace, based in Madison, Miss. (Source: Breaking Defense 06/02/20) https://breakingdefense.com/2020/06/socom-multi-mission-plane-competition-heats-up/