Ramona Adams
A Textron subsidiary has deployed three types of weapon systems through its Scorpion jet as part of a weapons testing program that occurred Oct. 10-Oct. 14 at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico.
The company said Wednesday its Textron AirLand arm worked with Naval Sea Systems Command and the 586th Flight Test Squadron at Holloman Air Force Base to test Scorpion’s close air support function through the launch of Hydra-70 unguided rockets, BAE Systems‘ Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System and AGM-114F Hellfire missiles.
A ground-based laser designator system and an airborne laser on Scorpion‘s L-3 Wescam-built MX-15Di sensor suite worked to guide the weapons to the targets.
Textron noted the first Scorpion prototype will continue its flight test program and said AirLand plans to fly the first Scorpion jet “soon.”
The Air Force and Textron signed a cooperative research and development agreement for Scorpion in July.
