Scorpion—Textron AirLand’s new light attack intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance aircraft—lifted off on its maiden flight from McConnell AFB, Kan., Thursday, company officials announced. Test pilots flew a series of handling checks, landing safely back at McConnell after 1.4-hours aloft, states the Dec. 12 release. “It showed impressive stability and responsiveness closely matching all of the predicted parameters for today’s maneuvers—it’s going to be a highly capable aircraft for the ISR and homeland security mission set,” company test pilot Dan Hinson said after landing. Scorpion’s design team developed, built, and flew the low-cost experimental jet in less than two years, borrowing heavily on existing technologies and techniques, the company said. The straight-wing subsonic jet is designed for a variety of light surveillance or attack roles in permissive threat environments, including counterinsurgency, narcotic-interdiction, and anti-piracy. The jet’s twin engines allow it to carry a 3,000-pound sensor payload internally in addition to precision-guided weapons on the wing stations. Scorpion cruises at 517 miles per hour, with a 2,400 nautical-mile ferry range. “When the design phase began … we were confidant that we would deliver a uniquely affordable, versatile tactical aircraft,” said Textron CEO Scott Donnelly. “Today’s flight met all expectations, and keeps us on track towards certification and production,” he added.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.