Barrett will consider accelerating light attack aircraft procurement

US Air Force (USAF) secretary nominee Barbara Barrett vowed, if confirmed, to consider accelerating the service’s light attack aircraft procurement since the service has backed out of previous plans to quickly procure such platforms.

During Barrett’s 12 September confirmation hearing, Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) member Tom Cotton of Arkansas criticised the USAF for using Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) and Boeing F-15 Eagles to bomb an Islamic State stronghold north of Baghdad, Iraq, earlier this week.

The Beechcraft AT-6B Wolverine is an example of a light attack aircraft that could be acquired by the US Air Force. (US Air Force)

Cotton’s point was that the USAF should not be using expensive fourth- or fifth-generation aircraft for missions in uncontested airspace and should instead use more affordable aircraft. SASC Ranking Member Jack Reed of Rhode Island said during the same hearing that the USAF F-35A conventional variant costs USD35,000 per hour to fly. He did not return a request for comment prior to publication.

“Feels to me we should be using aircraft that are suitable an in an environment where we have total air dominance and our F-35s and their pilots should be training for high-end conflict against adversaries like China,” Cotton said.

Barrett, responding to Cotton, said that she thought the USAF should more aggressively explore using light attack aircraft to perform missions in uncontested airspace.

“I look forward to taking leadership and looking to move that along more quickly and training and operational missions that fit that equipment,” Barrett said.