AT-6s drop precision-guided bombs

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TUCSON, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Hawker Beechcraft Defense Co.'s AT-6 Light Attack and Armed Reconnaissance aircraft have successfully delivered precision-guided munitions.

The company said during weapons tests in Arizona its pilots dropped four USAF GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs and four of Raytheon's GBU-58 Paveway II laser-guided bombs.

All eight weapons scored hits on their intended targets.

The weapons delivery events, which were conducted between Sept. 28 and Oct. 5, were part of an ongoing operational assessment by the Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center.

"The weapons deployment was a huge success thanks to the teamwork of Hawker Beechcraft, Lockheed Martin, CMC Electronics, L-3 WESCAM, Raytheon Missile Systems and, of course, the Air National Guard," said Jim Maslowski, president, Hawker Beechcraft Defense Co. "This testing is another major step in the evolution of the AT-6 and we couldn't be more pleased with the results."

The AT-6 Light Attack and Armed Reconnaissance aircraft was developed to be purpose-built to provide advanced training, light attack and armed reconnaissance capabilities required to meet the Department of Defense's Building Partnership Capacity needs.

The AT-6 is outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment such as the powerful Pratt and Whitney Canada PTA-68D turboprop engine, CMC Esterline's mission-modified Cockpit 4000, Lockheed Martin's A-10C-based mission system and L-3 WESCAM's MX-15Di day/night-capable sensor pod.

The aircraft is also equipped with an ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Management System, advanced ARC-210 radios with secure voice/data and SATCOM capabilities, a variety of air and ground datalinks and the weapons capability required to excel in meeting irregular warfare mission requirements.