Russia needs light turboprop aircraft against guerrillas
The rapid reaction forces and commandos of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) need modern arms and hardware to counter the threats coming from Afghanistan. The air component plays a major role due to the long borders, hard-of-access terrain, potential guerrilla war, infiltration of terrorists and illegal migrants. So far, reconnaissance and strike helicopters and drones can be used, the Independent Military Review writes.
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Airplanes of Super Tucano type are of interest for Russia and the CSTO as reconnaissance, strike and transport aircraft. It is necessary to design a light turboprop assault plane in the midterm, as it is most fit to fight a weakly armed adversary in a local conflict. Pictured here, an A-29 Super Tucano (Picture source: Embraer )
Some experts claim Tu-22M3 strategic supersonic bombers can strike at penetration attempts from Afghanistan to Central Asia. However, the United States engaged strategic aviation for 20 years in Afghanistan. It was a costly decision with no major result.
The Pentagon realized in the first operations in Vietnam that modern speed aircraft cannot fight a guerrilla war and sent Skyraider turboprop aircraft to Vietnam. The military praised their performance in anti-guerrilla operations.
The Vietnamese experience prompted the United States to arm its forces in Afghanistan with helicopter gunships and light turboprop assault airplanes. It staked on cheap light aircraft optimized to fight weakly armed militia. US experts said such aircraft combined the ability of precision strikes and could fly for a long time at a low altitude.
After the US withdrawal, the Taliban in Afghanistan obtained 23 A-29 Super Tucano light assault planes. The aircraft is fit to fight insurgents and is operated in many countries in the world.
The CSTO needs cheap and slow turboprop aircraft with various weapons to fight guerrillas and cut short penetration attempts from Afghanistan to Central Asia. Unfortunately, Russia and other CSTO countries do not have such aircraft and their design and production will take years.
Airplanes of Super Tucano type are of interest for Russia and the CSTO as reconnaissance, strike and transport aircraft. It is necessary to design a light turboprop assault plane in the midterm, as it is most fit to fight a weakly armed adversary in a local conflict. The combat experience and the demand in the international arms market confirm it.
The aggravation of the situation on southern CSTO borders calls to create a light aircraft to fight guerrillas. Some experts believe China can be a partner in the design and production of such aircraft, as it is interested in the consolidation of efforts in Central Asia.
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