Rapid Fire July 13, 2012: Birds With Clipped Wings

* HawkerBeechcraft has begun low-rate production of its own AT-6C FAC turboprop, “in response to significant indications of interest around the world.” * Unlucky day yesterday for 2 Colombian EMB-314 Drakos (Super Tucano) pilots, whose light attack/ FAC(Forward Air Control) turboprop was shot down during an operation against FARC narco-terrorists. If FARC used a missile, tensions between Venezuela and Colombia will spike. * Luckier days for Embraer lately, which just had Boeing sign on to add new weapons to its EMB-314 Super Tucano (A-29 to Brazil’s FAB). * Production cuts to the F-35 fighter family are jeopardizing promised cost reductions for Pratt & Whitney’s F135 engine. Friendly advice for P&W Military Engines President Bennett Croswell: “I think this will be like the F100 program…” is the wrong thing to say to anybody with a working memory of the F100’s early technical failures and cost issues, before competition was introduced by GE’s F110. * UAVs are going global. * France held a successful 3rd firing test of its long-range Scalp Naval/ MdCN cruise missile, and the 1st compete firing test. MdCN will deploy aboard some of France’s new FREMM frigates, and its submarines. * Can PTSD predisposition be predicted, before exposure […]