Cessna Scorpion

[tartare]

Seems the folks at Wichita are getting back into the military jet (http://www.kansas.com/2013/09/16/3003973/cessna-announces-plans-for-small.html) game.
Interesting announcement.

[dubbleyew eight]

be a nice private jet

[dallas]

Doesn't sound right: If you come anywhere near my airspace I'll launch a pair of Cessnas at you!

:hmm:

[ORAC]

Company Homepage (http://www.scorpionjet.com)

cIkiDkfZ7K4#t=74

[Bevo]

This is the underlying motivation:

And reconfiguring the plane as a trainer may be the key, Jaworowski said. Textron may be angling to make the Scorpion a contender in the coming fierce competition for the contract for at least 350 of the next generation of U.S. Air Force trainer to replace Northrop Grumman’s T-38.

[Heathrow Harry]

yeah - no market in the USA for a light strike aircraft - just a first hit in the trainer battle

[West Coast]

Perhaps not, but airframes have a way of morphing. T-37/A-37 as one example.

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

Isn't T-X looking for a supersonic trainer? Scorpion won't be able to go much faster than 500kts with those straight wings!

[tartare]

Dallas - have often wondered if I could sling a Hellfire under each wing of my 152.
Only 44kg each.
If a Predator can do it...

[glad rag]

“We began development of the Scorpion in January 2012 with the objective to design, build and fly the world’s most affordable tactical jet aircraft capable of performing lower-threat battlefield and homeland security missions,”
Read more here: Cessna announces plans for small military jet called Scorpion | Wichita Eagle (http://www.kansas.com/2013/09/16/3003973/cessna-announces-plans-for-small.html#storylink=cpy)


Unbelievable.

[LowObservable]

GR - In this case "homeland security" means doing what CBP already does with Cessna Citations (fitted with Selex AESA radars by the way) - chasing low/slow intruders suspected of narcotics or other trafficking operations.

The problem I see with this aircraft is that its mission space and market niche are squeezed from multiple directions - armed trainers, low-end fighters, civvy-based surveillance aircraft and even UAVs. The phrase "not sure you thought your brilliant plan all the way through" comes to mind.

[Always a Sapper]

Emerging market... Think private security contractors.... G4S Air Wing anyone?

[NutLoose]

Cessna reliability, plentiful spares and readily accessible if they use their dealerships the world over. Cheap as chips to operate and maintain with biz jet engines, 20,000 hr airframe life, 5 hr endurance and a 400 kt speed.

I can see it selling. It's far better and more realistic to flog something like this to the likes of Nigeria, than the stupid Jaguars that sat baking and rotting in the weeds with 100 hrs and less on them. On which the UK PLC was the guarantor and as the Nigerians defaulted on the payments we picked up the bill.


..

[SomeGuyOnTheDeck]

Am I right in assuming that the pointy nose is there to make it 'look like a real fighter' rather than for aerodynamic reasons?

[Captain Radar....]

Maritime surveillance and emergency relief? Where's the galley?

[LowObservable]

Captain Radar - A good point. If the Scorpion has two EO turrets, radar, AIS and ESM, and is coordinating surface forces (intercept boats for example) and talking to the commander on shore, the poor GIB is going to be rather busy, and after six hours in the cockpit, a bit tired.

And I don't know the price for a Scorpion, but this is actually a lighter aircraft with less costly engines:

http://www.cobham.com/media/939919/Piaggio%20MPA.jpg

[chopper2004]

Textron : Newsroom - Textron AirLand Announces Successful First Flight of Scorpion ISR/Strike Aircraft (http://investor.textron.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=110047&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1884364&highlight)

Cheers

[Courtney Mil]

Looks credible.

http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/52aa3bbe6da8111018e1085a-959-479/scorpion-first-flight-1.jpg

[Heathrow Harry]

not much space for fuel...............

[NutLoose]

The Scorpion has a cruising speed of up to 517 mph, a ferry range of 2,400 nautical miles, an internal payload of up to 3,000 pounds and wing-mounted precision munitions.


Bet it has a fuselage tank too, built in under two years, I wonder if the likes of the wings are off the shelf, something like a core wing off a citation etc

Think they have something in their blurb,

“The aircraft’s design is well matched to the Air National Guard’s missions such as irregular warfare, border patrol, maritime surveillance, emergency relief, counter narcotics and air defense operations,” the joint venture’s website says.

According to a report from Aviation Week, F-16s, which are currently used in many of those roles, cost about $25,000 an hour to operate. Textron AirLand’s goal is for the Scorpion to perform those missions at almost a tenth of that cost, Aviation Week said.

“We began development of the Scorpion in January 2012 with the objective to design, build and fly the world’s most affordable tactical jet aircraft capable of performing lower-threat battlefield and homeland security missions,” Textron Chairman and CEO Scott Donnelly said in a statement.

And if that ground running film is anything to go by, the accessibility is fantastic. See
Textron AirLand Latest News Archives - Textron AirLand (http://www.scorpionjet.com/category/latestnews/)

[TBM-Legend]

looks a lot like a Citation wing to me...even if it has been re-morphed in composites.:8

[andyy]

Textron?s Scorpion Heads To UK For RAF, Royal Navy Trials - (http://www.figuro.us/textrons-scorpion-heads-to-uk-for-raf-royal-navy-trials/)

Pinched the link from another forum.

Anyone know anymore that they are prepared to divulge?

RN FRADU Hawk replacement when the T Mk1 goes out of service perhaps?

[Flugplatz]

At the quoted dirrect operating costs per hour, could be a perfect 'sustainable' (austerity) aircraft for the Red Arrows! (or take away valuable Hawk T2)

Flug :)

[NickPilot]

I'm a little surprised Textron haven't developed/marketed this as an optionally crewed platform.

[Hawk98]

Flug, I see where you're coming from, but aside from displaying the professionalism of the RAF, aren't the Reds supposed to promote British engineering in the form of the Hawk?

[NutLoose]

RN FRADU Hawk replacement when the T Mk1 goes out of service perhaps?

I thought that too, indeed could it do the Falcons job as well?

[typerated]

I'd have thought it was too slow?

[TEEEJ]

I noticed a Scorpion on approach to RAF Cranwell just before 1500. Scorpion at RAF Cranwell

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJOMNRLXAAA-4I-.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJOMNMXWUAA-zZp.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJOMNKwXAAA5Say.jpg

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJOMNOqWIAApZlH.jpg

Images from

https://twitter.com/45sqn

[sandiego89]

Gah, imagine the whining if it were forced on the Red's or any display team....:}

Sleek and elegant it is not- but is it affordable, tailorable and good for training and permissive battlefields? quite likely....

[Lima Juliet]

More backseaters to find...good job we shut the Nav School! :ugh:

[Flugplatz]

At least we are having a look at it, maybe for not more than just curiousity. It does have some utility even if not in the traditional 'fast-jet' class. The direct costs they are quoting (if borne out) must be quite unbelievable to those steeped in traditional UK procurement and Ops!

But where would an aircraft like the Scorpion fit in to a military or support role in the UK services? I would imagine it would be better to just buy or upgrade a few more F35 / Typhoon?

Flug

[NutLoose]

I think it's quite a pretty looking jet.


But the $20 million plane is attracting serious interest from Britain’s Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. After the Paris Air Show, the demonstration aircraft will head to the U.K. for a week of flying at the request of the Brits. The Scorpion will perform air-to-air intercepts for the RAF and maritime surveillance operations with the Royal Navy, Bill Anderson, Textron Airland’s president told me after the video interview above.

[Trim Stab]

The Scorpion will perform air-to-air intercepts for the RAF and maritime surveillance operations with the Royal Navy

Both scenarios sound rather implausible to me.

[megan]

More backseaters to findNo need. Just copy the Hawk 200. :p

[Biggus]

Alternatively, follow CAS's alleged wishes and put another pilot in the back! :ok: