Light Observation Aircraft - 1990's

[kalos72]

I am looking for a light observation craft that can house a ground surveillance radar system to track people as well as vehicle movement.

Did the OA-37B contain a radar system?

Looking to find a small light aircraft that can be used as a basis for ground surveillance craft should the UAVs not be available in a certain area.

The Tweets seem like a good option...

[dragoon500ly]

OV-1 Mohawk carried radar as well as electronic surveillance equipment.

[WallShadow]

The OV-10 Bronco had room for 6 paratroops in its rear cargo bay; that might be a big enough volume/carrying weight to house a radar unit.

[kalos72]

There were observation models of all of the,. I like the Tweet and Bronco. I think they will work thanks!

[WallShadow]

I've always loved the Bronco at first sight. Would make a helluva air asset for T2k: twin turboprops, loiter capability, huge payload, relatively simple maintenance needs,flexible armament configuration.

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by WallShadow

I've always loved the Bronco at first sight. Would make a helluva air asset for T2k: twin turboprops, loiter capability, huge payload, relatively simple maintenance needs,flexible armament configuration.

Have you seen any of the articles on the COIN Bronco that the U.S. was using in Iraq a couple of years ago? Apparently, it kicked quite a lot of ass, but not enough, I guess, to merit resurrecting the design.

If not, behold my Google-Fu!

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...ing-manhunters

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...being-sold-off

http://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone...-to-fight-isis

https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/ov...d-a-1764407068

For a hard come-down, Google the video of a Venezuelan F-16 shooting down an OV-10 during a coup-de-etat. IIRC, it was a gun kill.

[WallShadow]

Originally Posted by Raellus

For a hard come-down, Google the video of a Venezuelan F-16 shooting down an OV-10 during a coup-de-etat. IIRC, it was a gun kill.

Perhaps, but how many F-16s are still operative in 2000? The Bronco _did_ have an option for carrying 2 Sidewinders....

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by WallShadow

Perhaps, but how many F-16s are still operative in 2000? The Bronco _did_ have an option for carrying 2 Sidewinders...

I just mentioned it as a point of interest. I wasn't necessarily arguing that an OV-10 or similar aircraft would be vulnerable to predation by advanced jet fighters in a T2K scenario. In the late Twilight War, a much bigger threat to LOA would be ground fire from HMGs or AAA, or maybe one of the few remaining MANPADS.

But if I were a general in T2K, I would love to have access to OV-10s or similar LOA.