IOMAX Archangel Block 3 Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA)

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Donald McKelvy
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A handsome refinement of the Air Tractor AT-802.

"IOMAX offers Archangel light attack turboprop to the Philippines"
Gareth Jennings, Mooresville, North Carolina - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
04 June 2014

Source:
http://www.janes.com/article/38800/iomax-offers-archangel-light-attack-turboprop-to-the-philippines

IOMAX has offered its Archangel Block 3 Border Patrol Aircraft (BPA) to the Philippine Air Force (PAF) as a replacement for its ageing Rockwell OV-10 Bronco counterinsurgency fleet, IHS Jane's was told on 2 June.

The US defence company has submitted a bid to the Philippine government, in which it is pitching the Archangel as a replacement for the PAF's nine remaining OV-10s, which were acquired second-hand in the 1990s, IOMAX CEO Ron Howard disclosed during a visit to the company's North Carolina headquarters.

"IOMAX has previously done signals intelligence in Southeast Asia, and so we know the region. The Philippine mission is very well suited to the Archangel," he said.

The Philippine requirement was formally launched in mid-May, when the Department of National Defense (DND) issued tender documents to acquire six close air support aircraft and an accompanying logistics support package for PHP4.968 billion (USD114 million).

In its documents, the DND noted that the selected bidder must have had prior experience of such programmes over the previous decade, and that the selected platform should already be in service with the armed forces of the country of origin or by the military of at least two other countries.

Although the Archangel BPA is regarded by some (the US Department of Defense included) as being an essentially new platform, it is in fact the third iteration (hence the Block 3 designation) of the Block 1 and Block 2 AT-802 that IOMAX developed and supplied to the United Arab Emirates (and which it still supports). Also, with the Block 1 also now in service with Jordan, the Archangel does fit the criteria for selection as laid down by the DND.

While the DND did not publically disclose aircraft specifications, IHS Jane's understands that they have been written up with the Embraer EMB-314 Super Tucano in mind, with requirements that it be equipped with retractable undercarriage and ejector seats, among other things.

The Archangel currently features neither of these, but Howard told IHS Jane's that IOMAX has done studies with Martin-Baker on the feasibility of replacing the current crash-resistant seating and roll-cage with twin ejection-seats and bubble canopy, and that this is perfectly doable (the United Arab Emirates is also said to be interested in the canopy for a potential follow-on order of aircraft, but not the ejection-seats). As for retractable undercarriage, Howard said the mission did not require it, and the weight penalties and rough field limitations would outweigh any benefits over the current fixed undercarriage, and so this would not be offered.

As retractable undercarriage is not being offered as an option, Howard said the company's designers were looking at a number of aerodynamic improvements to the Archangel that would help it close the speed gap from its current 180 kt cruise speed to bring it closer to the 220 kt of platforms such as the Super Tucano.

From spinner to tail, these enhancements include the option of an enhanced propeller with a scimitar-style composite blade; a sleeker nose profile; angling the exhaust rearwards to provide about 200 lb of additional thrust; speed fairings on the main undercarriage and wheel struts; remodelled wing roots and tips; blending the rear of the cockpit to the tail section to reduce buffeting and drag; remodelled tail and stabiliser roots and tips; and a more generally cleaned-up fuselage, with as few protruding parts as possible. According to IOMAX's chief scientist, Ray Nielson, who is leading this improvement effort, these modifications should increase the aircraft's cruise speed to about 210 kt.

Even so, Howard was keen to note that speed is not everything, and that rival platforms had sacrificed much in terms of payload and range/endurance in order to go faster. With a typical mission profile of 175 kt outbound to a range of 1,350 n miles, six hours on station, and 175 kt inbound to base, and all with a maximum gross take-off weight of 6,715 kg, the Archangel can cover more of the Philippine's area of operations with a greater weapon load than any of its competitors. At just USD8 million per aircraft (without options), the Archangel is also cheaper than many of its rivals ( IHS Jane's All the World's Aircraft gives the Super Tucano a unit price of USD12-13 million).

With the DND's tender documents now released, all bids must be submitted by 11 June, with the selected platform expected to be with the PAF 18 months after contract signature. Besides the Archangel and Super Tucano, other platforms expected to compete include the Beechcraft AT-6 Texan II, and perhaps even the Pilatus PC-21.

Artist's impression of the IOMAX Archangel ISR and light strike aircraft modified with a bubble canopy, ejection seats, and speed fairings. The aircraft is currently being offered to the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates (pictured). Source: IOMAX
 

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It's an interesting design, but the limited view of the ground from the cockpit sure doesn't look ideal.

Edit: I hadn't realized how much of the AT-802 was still a part of this design, so the cockpit makes more sense in that regard. I also agree with their thinking on the fixed gear.
 
Compare Air Tractor AT-802U

Source:
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/10944036535_2bf74ac46e_o.jpg
 

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ORIGINAL CAPTION: One of the first of 24 IOMAX Archangel Border Patrol Aircraft to the delivered to the UAE air force at the Dubai Airshow 2015. Source: IHS/Gareth Jennings
http://www.janes.com/article/55875/dubai-airshow-2015-light-strike-turboprops-centre-stage-in-the-uae​
 
I believe starting with Block 3 using the same name they switched from the AirTractor to the Thrush.
 
Wahubna said:
I believe starting with Block 3 using the same name they switched from the AirTractor to the Thrush.

Was the original proposal for such aircraft not coming from Fred Ayres - that time the owner of "Ayres Aircraft" which built the Ayres Trush. The company became Trush Aircraft after it went bankrupt in the desaster with the Ayres LM200 Loadmaster.
 
Kuno said:
Wahubna said:
I believe starting with Block 3 using the same name they switched from the AirTractor to the Thrush.

Was the original proposal for such aircraft not coming from Fred Ayres - that time the owner of "Ayres Aircraft" which built the Ayres Trush. The company became Trush Aircraft after it went bankrupt in the desaster with the Ayres LM200 Loadmaster.

I do not know if Fred Ayres had anything to do with this concept. What it sounds like in the aviation week articles is that AirTractor would not allow IOMAX to integrate changes to the aircraft on the production line where Ayres would.
 
stimpy75 said:
looks like a modern version of the Stuka!!

Reminds me slightly more of the Fieseler Fi 167 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fieseler_Fi_167). I can see the overlap in requirements though!
 
I, myself attended DAS2015, a fortnight ago on the tuesday to thursday and here are my photos from those days,

cheers

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cheers
 
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/02/21/exclusive-lawmakers-to-request-probe-of-418m-arms-sale-to-kenya-on-obamas-last-day/

The sale, approved by the State Department and privately notified to Congress on January 19, would allow Kenya to buy 14 weaponized crop-duster-like planes — including two trainer planes and services, for missions against terrorist group al-Shabaab.

The deal was publicly announced the Monday after Trump’s inauguration.

A handful of lawmakers, led by Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), are questioning why the contract to produce the planes was awarded to major defense firm L3 Technologies — which has never produced such a plane — while a smaller, disabled veteran-owned company in North Carolina that already make those planes at a lower cost was not considered.

The Mooresville, N.C. company, IOMAX USA Inc., costed out 14 planes at $237 million dollars, according to a Budd aide.
 

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