So what you are saying is that our current Hawk127's are not capable for armament and is completely useless for CAS?  Seems strange when I have seen video's of GBU12's, Mk82 High and Low Drags, 30mm gun pods, BDU training bombs and Aim-9 Missiles fired from them.  It also seems strange when I know that they perform a significant amount of training for the guys on JTAC course, and the guys on Hawk OPCON also get a couple of CAS training rides.  Looking further into what you have said re weapons, what you will find is that it was not capable of using weapons originally in service, but always was going to be capable of using weapons throughout its lifetime as the capability was brought online.

 

WRT to the PC9 having a derated engine.  You will find this is common on modern turboprops as it enables lighter and smaller gearboxes to be used, and by reducing the temperature within the engine it increases engine life.  Indeed the current T6 trainer is derated from 1600Hp to 1100Hp (not sure if this is changed for AT6/ T6B).    A further side benefit is that it enables said aircraft to maintain performance to higher altitudes, e.g the T6 will maintain 1100HP up to something like 16000ft before it starts to drop off.

 

"Operations Flight is responsible for advanced jet training above and beyond what is taught during IFC, allowing pilots to develop their core flying skills, operational skills and leadership abilities. Operations Flight also provides fleet support to Navy and close air support training to Army."

link

IIRC the PC9's are bussed for designators

Why would you need a GPS/INS if you were spiking targets for LGB's? They rely entirely on homing in on reflected laser energy for their guidance, the designator doesn't need to know where it is for that. Keep in mind that there are man-portable laser designators about so a lightweight one for a PC-9 is quite plausible and if they were bussed for it it would just be a matter of fitting the appropriate screen that comes with the designator.

 

I know how an LGB works, and the problem is not with the LGB, it is with the designation. 

 

You cant just go spiking around randomly out the window with a handheld.  If you want to get an accurate designation from a moving aircraft it is going to have to be gyro stabilised for a starter.  Secondly you are going to need some method of confirming that it is pointing where you want it to make sure that you are lazing the Taliban hideout and not the mosque next door.  Lets say that it is attached to some sort of imaging pod, whether its FLIR/TV doesnt matter.

 

Now, you can try to find out where the bad guys are by just looking through the TV Camera, but I want to get the best out of these sort of things, so I want a better way of finding the target. If you dont know where you are looking, it is pretty handy to have a set of coordinates passed to you by whoever (old mate on the ground, some other ISR sensor, pre-strike planning whatever).  You plug these into your computer.  INS/GPS then works out a relative range, bearing, depression angle etc, and slews the pod to where the co-ordinates are.  Too easy.

 

So whilst you may (potentially) be able to get away without an INS, I dont see why you would bother.  There are many many other benefits to them, e.g calculating firing solutions for weapons i.e. releasing said LGB at an appropriate point in space.

 

Finaly, I'm still not convinced that the PC9 is wired for anything of the sort.

 

 

 

I guess we'll have to wait for GF to get back to us but it sounds entirely plausible to me. There are various lightweight airborne laser designators and navigation systems available, not to mention night vision gear, which the PC-9 could power if it was wired appropriately ... otherwise how would the Kiowa Warrior power all of its avionics systems?

I'd note however that an INS/GPS while being useful for these types of missions isn't critical. The purpose of a FAC is to get a good visual reference on a target for the fast movers and that used to be done with the likes of a O-1 Bird Dog and rockets. A laser designator is just a more modern alternative for target designation than a rocket is and isn't dependent on an advanced navigation system to operate.

4 x PC9's tagged for FAC.  none are hardwired.