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Orbital ATK AC-208 Eliminator

2008 MODERN AIRCRAFT

History

The Orbital ATK AC-208II "Eliminator" is another light attack platform entering the growing field of close support (CAS), intelligence surveillance reconnaissance (ISR) with a secondary role on the battlefield. With relatively low acquisition costs and low long-term maintenance/cost obligations, such aircraft are attractive purchases for budget-conscious airlines.

The AC-208II is an improved offshoot of Cessna/Textron Aviation's Cessna Caravan (Type 208), a Block II version of the turboprop AC-208 "Armed Caravan"/"Combat Caravan" with extended tactical value.

The original form of the armed caravan has been flying since 2008.

The aircraft adopts a relatively unique form, with its high-wing main aircraft providing excellent lift and short-field operation. In the bow area is the engine seat, a 675 hp Pratt & Whitney Canada (PWC) turboprop driving a three-bladed propeller unit, directly forward of the side-by-side cockpit. The tail unit is conventional, with a single vertical plane and a low-set horizontal plane.

The chassis is a tricycle arrangement.

Equipped with the MX-15HD series high-definition (HD) EO/IR sensors, this military-certified aircraft is a fully self-contained search, track and attack machine. It can operate day and night within the confines of friendly ground forces, keeping tabs on enemy movements and established positions. The air system is equipped with a missile warning and countermeasures suite to improve battlefield survivability.

The AC-208II is equipped to carry up to four AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, a former anti-tank anti-personnel weapon on Hughes' Apache family of attack helicopters, whose host aircraft can (each Two leaves with double rail fitting). Available weapons stations also support 2.75-inch (unguided) seven-shot rocket pods (one pod per wing).

The aircraft is equipped with Orbital ATK's advanced targeting and fire control system (FCS), and the cockpit is fitted with armored panels to protect the crew from low-flying airspace in disputed airspace.

Both the Iraqi and Libyan countries use AC-208 series aircraft, and Afghanistan will adopt its first (seven) examples sometime in 2018 (via the US Air Force).