Buzzard Aircraft

The mission of counter insurgency air support is usually delegated to a mixture of civilian and training aircraft that are often less than ideal. Air support of such operations falls into three categories:

1) Airborne strike. Because insurgents often operate close to civilian populations or in areas of value such strikes need to me made with considerable precision to minimise collateral damage.

2) Reconnaissance/Observation. In this role it is an advantage if the aircraft can operate from forward landing strips and work in close co-ordination with the ground units they are supporting.

3) Transportation. Although one usually associates aircraft such as the C-130 with this role, there is also a requirement for smaller aircraft to insert tracking, OP or investigation teams, liaison duties and Casevac. Obviously the capability to land in poorly prepared areas is an advantage for such operations; the U.S. Army National Guard C-23 Sherpa (below) has this capability.

To meet all these requirements, an aircraft should have the following characteristics:

-Speed. This provides both tactical and strategic mobility. It allows an aircraft to cover more ground, reach a destination in less time and makes it harder to shoot down once it gets there.

-Survivability. The aircraft should be capable of withstanding attack from ground fire by a combination of armour, countermeasure systems and reduced signature. If damaged the aircraft should be easy to repair under field conditions.

-Armament. Guerrilla targets are often fleeting, so the aircraft should be capable of delivering a decisive blow with sufficient precision to minimise damage to surrounding areas.

-Cargo capacity. The aircraft should be capable of carrying a useful load of weapons, stores or personnel.

-Ability to operate from roughly prepared airfields, forward areas and be field maintainable.

The aircraft type I propose I call the "Buzzard", a high wing monoplane capable of landing on an unprepared field and with a cabin capable of carrying several passengers, stretchers or a useful cargo. At each end of the cabin is mounted a piston/turboprop engine, one driving a pusher propeller, the other a tractor propeller. The tricycle undercarriage is retractable and the tail is supported by twin booms from the wing. The plane will look like an enlarged version of the Cessna 337 Skymaster/O-2 Milirole, but with much more powerful engines.

	Certain helicopter turbines have been used to power light aircraft, and these may prove appropriate for this aircraft, while simplifying spare parts supply.
	Body construction could be of canvas and dope, in the manner of the Hawker Hurricane, to allow for easy repairs.
	The floor of the cabin would be armoured and the aircraft would mount IRCM and IR suppression systems. The exhaust from the forward engine could be ducted along the interior of the booms to cool it.
	The aircraft would mount aiming systems compatible with missile systems like TOW, HOT and Hellfire. The use of such stand off guided weapons would be preferable to free fall ordinance in many cases.

The use of two engines gives redundancy against damage and also allows a heavier weapon load to be carried. Given that this configuration gives two engines with only the frontal drag of one, a speed of at least 400mph would be not unreasonable to expect. The same layout was used on the Dornier 335 Pfeil, (right) which with two 1800hp engines and a weight of 7,260-10,000kg could reach 474mph/763kph.

This high speed potential of the design enhances both the aircraft's strategic and tactical potential. In other words, it takes less time to reach a fight and is harder to shoot down when it gets there. The aircraft will be equipped with numerous wing and centreline hardpoints but should also have a built in gun armament. This may be constructed as a pair of packs that fit into the origin of the tail boons. An configuration of two 20mm cannon and four 7.62mm machine guns has been suggested, giving an armament equal to the Argentine Pucara. Alternative configurations include four .50 calibre MGs; two 30mm cannon and two 7.62mm MGs; six 7.62mm MGs or two 7.62mm Miniguns. A flexible machinegun mount can be mounted in the cabin and this could be stabilised for precision fire at ground targets when collateral damage needs to be minimised.

Provision to fit pontoons or skis should be included, as should be the capability to fit a pod mounted radar for maritime patrol missions. The versatility of the Buzzard offers some interesting possibilities. An aircraft could provide support fire to a ground unit with missiles, bombs, rockets and gunfire. Once the action is completed the Buzzard could land on a suitable nearby area and pick up wounded for high speed Casevac.

Other ideas

Black Widow II
My friend Ed suggests that there should also be a larger fuselaged brother to the Buzzard. Like the Buzzard, it would incorporate built in defensive and offensive equipment and twin tail boons. Ed suggests mounting the engines at the front of the tail booms in the manner of the P61 Black Widow - I've suggested a push-pull engine pod above the wings. In either case this allows nose mounted armament and rear cargo doors. Another thing this allows for is a flying boat hull, making this a true amphibian without the need of a pontoon kit.

Night Owl.
During the Vietnam war a series of observation aircraft were developed with features that reduced their acoustic signature. These were known as the QT-1, QT-2, Q-Star and YO-3A. While I feel the Buzzard would benefit from incorporating some of these design features, I also see a role for a dedicated night patrol aircraft. This will have many of the design features of the Buzzard, but will probably be a strike and observation aircraft and not have a transport role. It is possible this will be a four seater aircraft (pilot, co-pilot and two sensor specialists).

STOL transport
There is also an obvious requirement for a larger transport aircraft with rough field STOL capabilities. In certain situations there may be a requirement for an aircraft to land in hostile territory, deploy or recover personnel and quickly take off. Useful features would include:

	The ability to land using braking chutes and to take off with Rocket assistance.
	The ability to transport light vehicles, a platoon of infantry or a smaller number of paratroopers.
	Engines designed for low noise and low infra-red signature.
	A rear ramp or door that can be opened in flight.
	A night vision system for the pilot for night-time landings.
	A variety of undercarriage systems to suit differing terrain types.
	Flexibly mounted armament that can be used to defend the aircraft when on the ground.

An aircraft that comes close to meeting these requirements is the Israeli Arava.

     The Arava's capability to mount armament has also seen it used in a Gunship role in the manner of the AC-47 Spooky. The Arava uses .50 BHMGs. Alternate armaments include 7.62mm mini-guns and automatic grenade launchers.

COIN Fighter.
        Although the main need for aircraft in a COIN campaigns will be for versatile air platforms such as the Buzzard, there may still be a requirement for dedicated strike aircraft. This role is often taken by attack variants of jet trainers, but many of these aircraft require a prepared field to operate from. It is possible that a turboprop aircraft, similar to a World War 2 fighter may prove a better alternative to the requirement of a low cost, high performance close support aircraft. I'm tempted to suggest something like the P-51 Mustang, though an aircraft with the cloth and dope construction of the Hurricane may be more appropriate. Interestingly, P-51s were being used in this role by some air forces at least as recently as the mid sixties, although a modern aircraft would need to add features such as modern defensive systems and ejector seats.

         Good reference sources: Low-technology Aircraft and Little Wars , Rhodesian COIN tactics with combined force of parachute and helicopter landed infantry and fixed and rotary wing attack aircraft.

Phil West phil.west@angelfire.com