The fatal crash of an Embraer A-29 Super Tucano flying from Holloman AFB on June 22 has ended the flying part of the U.S. Air Force Light Attack Experiment (LAE). The Super Tucano was being evaluated against the Beechcraft AT-6B Wolverine in the LAE, which is supposed to inform the USAF’s future potential requirement designated OA-X for a low-cost, off-the-shelf aircraft. One of the two aircrew, a U.S. Navy pilot, was killed in the accident.
A second phase of LAE flying was about two-thirds completed when the accident occurred. A first phase last year eliminated the Textron Scorpion light jet and the L3 Longsword heavy turboprop.
Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, the USAF’s top acquisition official, told a media briefing that the service had acquired enough data to proceed. However, it might require more logistics and sustainment data from the two contractors. An RFP could follow by the end of the year, he added.