U.S. Fast-Tracks New “Armed Overwatch” Attack Plane

photo – MAG Aerospace MC-208 Armed Caravan

By Kris Osborn – Warrior Maven

(Washington, D.C.) They take heavy fire, navigate uneven dangerous terrain, light-up targets in high risk areas, train indigenous forces for warfare and maneuver to contact amid complex combat scenarios …. they… are U.S. infantry soldiers

They often operate in small, forward-operating units detached from larger headquarters or mechanized ground forces; their mission is asymmetrical and varied, to include intelligence work, missions behind enemy borders and direct action operations such as combat raids on specific enemy targets. Given all these factors, and the increasingly high-tech threat environment, defense industry engineers are pursuing a new “Armed Overwatch” surveillance/attack/close-air-support aircraft for its forces.

The U.S. Army currently operate in a number of countries, having in recent years sustained an almost unthinkable op-tempo to keep pace with global demand. Also, infantry missions and training have continued to evolve and pivot as the Pentagon adjusts its primary focus from counterinsurgency to great power competition. At the same time, the need for counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, tribal warfare and small wars has by no means gone away. This is especially true in places like the African continent, an area where SOF forces have been particularly focused in recent years.

Infantry needs organic, synergized air support able to adjust as missions change and evolve in real time. Lives depend upon this. Perhaps concentrations of enemy forces are gathering on the other side of a mountain, staging and preparing for attack? All while soldiers advance in their direction. Wouldn’t they need both the surveillance data to know the enemy force was there and, perhaps of greater importance, an option to attack enemy fortifications from the air? Among other things, this kind of close-in, adjustable air support can enable units to maneuver or reposition in combat. Greater yet, integrated air support can offer Commanders direct action attack options.

The need for units to have this kind of support has been expressed by lawmakers for many months, such as Rep. Michael Waltz, (R-Fla.). In an interview several months ago, Waltz told Warrior his view on this topic of providing close-in air support to units on the ground. Waltz is intimately familiar with the need for military units to have this asset in combat, having himself fought in Afghanistan as a Green Beret for many years.

It is with these circumstances in mind that U.S. military forces have embarked upon an ambitious, fast-tracked effort to bring an “Armed Overwatch” light aircraft to support its units in combat.