2 Attachment(s)
Back to the Future, again and again and again
:wry: We have done this before--big surprise I know :wry:
Look at the A26/B26 transition from medium bomber (A26) in late WWII through Korea to the Congo in 1964 as "COIN" A/C. It was around that time that the Mohawk showed up and the Army did its best to slip it under the Air Force radar screen as an "unarmed" platform, which it ultimately became as a SLAR and IMINT bird.
Then again never forget that the Blackbird (SR71) as an Air Force system was designed as an interceptor (fighter) 1962-1971?. It was the CIA that fielded it as the A12 recce bird in 1962; the SR71 replaced it as an Air Force recce system in 1968.
Gratefully neither the recce nor the interceptor version could be flown slowly enough below their Mach 3.35 speed to allow them to be configured for COIN. That really would have made for interesting CAS. :wry:
Best
Tom
coin aircraft for the philippines
Hi:
The Philippines badly needs a squadron of new COIN aircraft for operations against Islamist terrorists mostly and the NPAs from time to time. Its OV10s are badly aging.
During the Huk rebellion the Philippine Air Force made effective use of F-51 Mustangs in its against the Communist-led guerillas.
I do know that there is a twin-engined version of the F-51 that goes by another name.
An upgraded version of this would suit the Philippine armed forces just fine.
It could be used to give hot pursuit to Islamist terrorists riding in pump boats who could use their crafts' speed to seek refuge in Sabah, Malaysia.
lt could also double up for maritime patrol missions from the the Batanes islands near Taiwan to Tawi Tawi near Malaysia.