The Beechcraft AT-6E Wolverine is a light attack and armed reconnaissance aircraft developed from the T-6 series of trainers used by the USAF. Currently the USAF has two of these in service being flown out of Moody AFB in Georgia with the 81st Fighter Squadron.
History
During the 1990’s the US Air Force and US Navy were looking for a new trainer aircraft to replace the aging T-37 and T-34 aircraft already in use. This was done under the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) competition. The main priority was to have enhanced capabilities and lower costs. Numerous proposals were made but the one chosen was Raytheon Beach’s PC.9 Mk.II, a modified variant of the Pilatus PC-9.
The subsequent aircraft would be renamed the T-6 Texan II in homage to the original T-6 Texan used as a trainer aircraft from the 1930’s until the 1960’s. Serial production of the T-6A began n 1999 with 141 being ordered.
Later the T-6B would emerge as an upgrade to the T-6A, it would feature a glass cockpit with a digital Heads Up Display (HUD), six Multi-Function Displays (MFDs), and a Hands on Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) control setup.
The design of the T-6 would eventually lead to the AT-6E, a production variant that could be armed for both combat or training missions. The first of which would be handed over to the USAF on the 18th of December 2020.
The AT-6E features the same mission computer used in the A-10C which allows it to be effective in combat. It features a built in targeting suite which includes the L3 Wescam MX-15Di which provides colour and thermal picture of the target and also laser designator functions to be able to guide laser guided weaponry.
Specifications
Size
- Length - 10.16m / 33ft 4in
- Height - 3.25m / 10ft 8in
- Wingspan - 10.4m / 34ft 3in
Weight
- Basic Weight - 2,671kg / 5,890lb
- Max Takeoff / Landing Weight - 4,536kg / 10,000lb
- Max Load - 1,864kg / 4,110lb
Engine
- 1 x Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68D Turboprop
Speed
- Cruise Speed - 510kph / 320mph
- Max Speed - 586kph / 364mph
Armament
Air to Air
- AIM-9 Sidewinders
Air to Ground
- Mk.81 250lb bombs
- Mk.82 500lb bombs
- GBU-12 Paveway II LGB
- GBU-38 JDAM
- GBU-58 Paveway II LGB
- GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II
- GBU-59 Enhanced Paveway II
- APKWS Laser-guided rockets
- Talon Laser-guided rockets
- GATR laser-guided rockets
- AGM-114 Hellfire
Misc
- HMP-400 .50cal machine gun pods
Videos
These videos are from Textron Aviation Defence AT-6 webpage which uses it’s own video player and thus won’t play here but I have provided links to each video.
Weapon Test Videos
- Yes
- No
- 8.0 → 8.7
- 9.0 → 9.7
- 10.0 → 10.7
- 11.0 → 11.7
- 12.0 +
- I said no
- 8.0 → 8.7
- 9.0 → 9.7
- 10.0 → 10.7
- 11.0 → 11.7
- 12.0 +
- I said no
- Tech Tree Vehicle
- Event Vehicle
- Squadron Vehicle
- Premium Vehicle
- I said no
Sources
Textron Aviation Defence - AT-6 Wolverine
Textron Aviation Defence - AT-6 Wolverine Product Card
Absolute Aviation - AT-6 Wolverine
Skies Mag - USAF receives first Beechcraft AT-6E Wolverine
Flight Global - Military type certification nod to drive AT-6E Wolverine sales, Textron says
Air & Space Forces Magazine - AT-6 Wolverine
Key Aero - AT-6E Wolverine: The USAF’s natural choice?
The War Zone - The Air Force Finally Has Its First New AT-6E Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft