Paris Debut for Military Air Tractor

The Texas-based agricultural aircraft manufacturer Air Tractor showed off its military-modified AT-802U Air Truck at the 2009 Paris airshow in June. The 802U is a modification of the standard Air Truck 802 agricultural “crop-duster”—a machine that has already been deployed successfully by the US State Department on operations for the spray-control of drug crops in overseas theatres. The turbine-powered 802 is the largest single-engine agricultural aircraft in the world with a 16,000 lb (7,260 kg) gross weight in its standard agricultural configuration.

The military modifications include the addition of under-wing hard-points, enabling the carriage of four tonnes of multiple munitions for the counter-insurgency and ground attack roles. Bombs, rockets and triple-barrelled GAU-19 mini-guns are among the weaponry available for this extremely cost-effective alternative to the higher-priced and technically complicated types on offer from other manufacturers.

The AT-802U platform will also be capable of carrying more advanced weapon systems such as guided missiles and rockets, with the inclusion of appropriate launch, targeting and guidance packages. Surveillance and threat suppression tasks are also included in the Air Truck’s intended roles.

The biggest selling points of the Air Tractor design are its inherent ruggedness, simplicity of service and repair, huge range and endurance (up to 10 hours), versatility, and the ability to be deployed to forward operating areas unsuitable for other fixed-wing types.

The typical ag-aircraft’s strengths of high manoeuvrability while operating “low and slow” should see high demand for this type in the ground-support role.

Despite its Paris début, the AT-802U is not an early prototype design; the modifications have been well tested and the aircraft is effectively demonstration- and sale-ready. It is predicted that it will provide an alternative not only to smaller nations with lower budgets, but also major world powers looking for rapid deployment and remote area capabilities with vastly reduced support resourcing requirements.