How to Sell a COIN Aircraft in a Great-Power Era

by Marcus Weisgerber - Defense One

With the National Defense Strategy shift to great-power competition — and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’ ubiquitously quoted “three lines of effort ” — it’s no surprise that the defense industry has been tailoring marketing messages to suit. Perhaps more surprising are the pitches for the kinds of weapons that would have been perfect for the past 17 years of counterinsurgency warfare. Exhibit one: The U.S. Air Force’s Light Attack Experiment, an ongoing evaluation of two bomb-carrying turboprop aircraft. They’re the types of planes that would have been perfect for supporting combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Such planes would also have saved tons of wear and tear on the far more expensive F-15E and F-16 fighter jets, designed for high-end combat but pressed into service against low-end foes. Some in the Air Force wanted the planes back then, but service leaders never found funding. (I explored this at greater length in Air Force Magazine’s January 2010 issue).

Now, as the Pentagon shifts its focus to better preparing for war with Russia or China, some predict that the Air Force will buy hundreds of these small turboprop planes. Why, you might ask? First off, the fight against terror groups — whether it’s the Taliban, al Qaeda, Boko Haram, al Shabaab, or insert-insurgent-group here — isn’t expected to go away…

Read on .