LAAD 2019: Akaer presents conceptual Mosquito multi-role aircraft

Akaer of Brazil is presenting a conceptual twin-engine multi-role aircraft called the Mosquito at the 2019 LAAD Defence & Security exposition that, if developed, would be the company’s first aircraft.

The Mosquito would conceptually perform missions such as close air support (CAS); intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); armed ISR; and aerial refuelling. It could also perform combat search and rescue (CSAR); communications intelligence; air defence; airborne command and control (C2); and battlefield interdiction.

Akaer is showing a conceptual multi-role aircraft called Mosquito at the 2019 LAAD Defence and Security exposition. (IHS Markit/Pat Host)

Fernando Ferraz, Akaer chief operations officer, told Jane’s on 3 April that Mosquito is the result of a two-to-three-year effort to identify needs and trends in the light attack aircraft market. The company, he said, also went through 10 different designs before settling on this model while trying to blend many requirements from around the world.

“We are trying to mix some trends,” Ferraz said. “This is what should be a product able to comply with all the wishes we could find.”

Ferraz said an engine provider for the Mosquito has not been finalised but the company conceptually used the 500–1,000 shaft hp class Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A propulsion system. An engine provider would be according to a customer’s request.

The Mosquito would differentiate itself from competing light attack aircraft such as the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano or the Textron AT-6 Wolverine by providing better visibility. Ferraz said Akaer conceptually designed the Mosquito with raised wings on the fuselage. Both the Super Tucano and the Wolverine have wings much lower on the aircraft fuselage.