Thanks Westy!
I need no convincing as to the utility of cheap, turboprop-powered light attack aircraft which do not necessarily have a 'full-spectrum' capability for peer or near peer conflicts.
Putting aside the higher maintenance/parts requirement of FJ platforms, the fuel demand alone is significant - those who drew up the original OA-X Enabling Concept were clear in identifying that the FJ's "insatiable demand for convoys running the gauntlet of IEDs and ambushes" had been a significant source of casualties and cost.
That's why the present OA-X assessment is so puzzling - after sensibly and clear-sightedly narrowing down to a turboprop solution and a 3,000 ft max take off distance in the original OA-X Enabling Concept document in 2008-ish, they're suddenly talking about jets and a 6,000 ft take off for the soon-to-begin evaluation at Holloman.
I'd have thunk that the more different your OA-X is from an F-35, the less likely the US brass are to see it as a source of competition, or as a likely source of direct diversion of funds…..