scorpion aircraft

Scorpion Aircraft - Although it has matchmaking capabilities, the Scorpion is not a traditional fighter, attack, reconnaissance, surveillance or trainer, and is not intended to replace existing platforms. To understand this, one must look at Scorpion as an ISR/Strike platform developed in the context of the smartphone business model.

Hardware Platform - Scorpion can be compared to 256GB iPhone X (or Pixel 2 / Samsung Note 8 equivalent if you prefer). The aircraft has a very open mission architecture with dedicated internal/external cargo capability. An Interface Control Document [ICD] is provided to payload providers programming the payload to interface with the Scorpion mission system. The result is a highly efficient hardware platform with a "sky's the limit" paid app/store!

Scorpion Aircraft

Textron is focused on providing a very low operating cost, flexible and modular "flight platform" to easily accommodate the most capable payloads of today and tomorrow. The approach is a complete break from the proprietary systems used by the prime contractors of today's advanced fighter jets; control, reduced and priced by the boss.

First Production Configuration Scorpion Takes To The Skies

A Textron Scorpion with HMP-400 guns flies over NAS Patuxent River during a recent weapons test. The TEXTRON team achieved 100% mission success in testing the weapon system. 5 different configurations (LAU-131, HMP-400 Gun pods, GBU-12) were tested for 5 days, the tests were completed 4 days ago. (Photo: Eric Hildebrandt)

Textron Aviation Hall Defense and Demonstration Flight Test Pilot Matt "Tajma" (current Air National Guard C-130 Commander; experienced F-15E and T-6 pilot) provided the flight briefing, and Chief Test Pilot Dan "Shaka" Hinson (Ret. USN F/A-18 pilot, former commanding officer of the US Naval Air Strike School and graduate of the US Naval Test Pilot School) piloted the aircraft. The incredible quality and experience the Textron team has assembled not only to fly and test the aircraft, but to provide the intellectual capital behind the design and capability cannot be overemphasized.

Testron Scorpion "P2" ready to fly near USAF OA-X test from Manassas, VA. (All photos: by the author unless otherwise noted).

Departing from Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia on an IFR flight plan in low clouds, we quickly climbed to 5,000 feet and headed southwest with clear skies. A quick maneuver and climb made it clear that we were under jet power. Within minutes we were in acceptable VFR conditions over Charlottesville, Virginia and ATC provided airspace to maneuver. For the next 60 minutes, Hinson demonstrated flight characteristics, sensors and weapons systems.

Textron Starts Scorpion Jet Production

Hinson had me evaluate the airplane under his watchful eye for cornering, drag Gs, high speed handling, speed braking, aileron roll, multiple stalls and stall recovery. The Scorpion is an extremely stable and "pilot friendly" aircraft. The engines are idle, the wings are up, the back is stuck and the nose is high - and the plane doesn't stop. Once the parameters were set to create a stop, recovery was easy. The plane's slide and a slight nose down lead to Hinson saying "the plane really accelerates with that attitude on the nose...". The man is a true professional, the "pull your nose up" gentlemen's way. I did it.

Author Todd Miller takes a selfie in the Textron Aviation Defense Scorpion Jet in Virginia, USA. ISR / Light Attack capable, deployable for uncontested terrain.

The wing provides a very large glide ratio, which is ideal for ISR in the permitted environment of the aircraft purpose. At the station at about 12,000 feet, the total fuel burn was only 500-600 pounds per hour per engine. This opportunity allows you to spend a lot of time on the station with a variety of weapons ready to neutralize the target. In comparison, fuel burn per hour on station is about 10-12% of the F-15E Strike Eagle and less than 20% of the F-16 at the same location. Although they are not a replacement for these fighter jets, it is clear how many hours have been accumulated by the F-15E, F-16, A-10 and F/A-18 over the last 30 years of mission practice. The Scorpion provides excellent cost effectiveness while, at the same time, enabling operations in harsh environments with much more capable ISR payloads.

A true set of eyes and ears in the air, the Scorpion supports payloads that enable both kinetic and non-kinetic effects in all areas of operation. With a large interior space for payloads, the Scorpion offers a surplus of power to support unexpected and unexpected demands. The L3 has a nose piece for configuration with electro-optical/infrared (EO-IR) sensors such as the Wescam MX series or an active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar. Three large internal payload bays can be configured for use with sensors/payloads to support Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), Hyperspectral Analysis, Electronic Warfare and more. Additional payloads such as a 4G LTE Hotspot can be very useful in humanitarian emergencies. Like a smartphone, Scorpion's capabilities are limited only by the ingenuity of suppliers to fill the available space and power.

Textron Airland Scorpion Zap16.com Air Show Photography, Civilian And Military Aircraft Fact Sheets

The Textron Scorpion L-3 features the ability to carry a Wescam MX-15 (nose mount) or a powerful MX-25 (3 loads). In both cases, the EO IR sensor is fully retracted and stowed for pre-station flight operations.

Permissive environments using critical ISR assets such as the RC-135 Rivet Joint [SIGINT], E-8 JSTARS [Surveillance and Display], etc. can find more than adequate capability in a properly designed Scorpion. This reduction in ISR packages will dramatically increase cost savings and free up the most capable USAF assets for more challenging missions.

In the station's orbit, I intuitively saw the plane and intuitively controlled a series of sensors while in flight via Hands-on Throttle and Stick [HOTAS]. Up front, Hinson used the Helmet Cueing System (HMCS) to demonstrate operational capabilities. Dedicated sensor packages overlay data from multiple payloads and create a single location picture captured by time and geolocation. Data can be processed on board with a powerful computer package or transferred over a secure network to other assets in space, in the air or on the ground. As Steven Burke, Senior Advisor for Aviation Defense at Textron, said, “We're capturing a target that is very difficult to see in the noise. A low-contrast, short-term target in a chaotic urban environment. An environment that the USAF has been operating in for years - with no end in sight.

A view from the back office of a Textron Scorpion flying over Virginia, USA. The picture is distorted by the camera's panorama function (tea, etc.). Visible points on the canopy provide "calibration" for the helmet fitting system.

Air Force To Certify Scorpion Jet, Broadening Its International Appeal

The massive growth in data generated by ISR platforms has created serious workforce challenges in terms of processing, exploitation and distribution (PED). An on-board, algorithm-based computer system provides a major step forward in PED capability. Such computer-aided data analysis is a critical capability, USAF thought leaders say.

Scorpion's open payload architecture is completely isolated from the aircraft's flight controls. Each system/sensor simply runs as a unique program on the main mission systems computer. This "non-governmental" approach opens up many possibilities for user discussions and contracts. Speaking at the OA-X test at Holloman AFB, Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson described this approach (open/non-proprietary architecture) as a requirement for doing business with the USAF. Many hours of regression testing can be avoided when Scorpion payment providers upgrade their sensors with additional capabilities - refer, connect, play and use to the ICD. Instead of taking years to update sensors, this can be accomplished in a matter of weeks.

The excellent flight characteristics I experienced are complemented by extreme reliability and ease of operation. Whether in military trials, flight tests or international missions - the Scorpion has shown excellent training performance. The P2, which recently flew from Wichita, Kansas to the Dubai Air Show, visited nine countries in six days with 100 percent mission readiness. The appearance of 100 percent preparation is illusory. However, it is not surprising that the aircraft uses proven and extensive commercial systems.

Royal Air Force pilots visiting Saudi Arabia quickly became proficient in the Scorpion and scored several direct hits with the inert GBU-12. At the Dubai Air Show, the Textron team continued to work on the aircraft with several demonstrations showing the capabilities of the Scorpion to a number of international customers.

Saudi Arabia Puts Textron's Scorpion Light Attack Jet Through Its Paces

Unlike the USAF or Saudi Air Force pilots during the O-AX test, there were no weapons in my flight demonstration. However, the target was identified below and Hinson displayed an attack image with a precisely guided weapon. The Scorpion has a proven source management system [SMS], which will continue to evolve as more weapons are added to the aircraft.

A Textron Scorpion fired a 2.75-inch Hydra-70 missile during a recent weapons test at NAS Patuxent River, MD. The Textron team had 100% mission success in testing the weapon system. 5 different configurations (LAU-131, HMP-440 weapon pods, GBU-12) were tested over 5 days (Photo: Eric Hildebrandt)

Back at the airfield, I had time to appreciate the aircraft's unusual appearance and potential value to the USAF pilot shortage. OA-X noted this during testing

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