Bronco Combat Systems Bronco II

History

Bronco Combat System (BCS) "Bronco II" is a rebranded version of the original Paramount Group AHRLAC (Mwari) Close Air Support (CAS)/Light Attack Source Platform from South Africa (described elsewhere on this page). The new Bronco II was created in 2018 through a U.S.-focused rebrand that violated the U.S.

Air Forces light attack requirements, and currently (2020) represents the U.S. Special Forces Armed Overwatch Lightweight on the market Strike Operations Command (USSOCOM) to meet the requirements. Leidos leads the team with Paramount Group (USA) and Vertex Aerospace as subcontractors.

The flight portion of the competition is scheduled to begin in November 2020.

South Africa's Mwari aircraft was born in 2009, but it hasn't caught the world's attention since.

The Bronco II is named in homage to the original North American Rockwell (now Boeing) "Bronco", a twin-engine, twin-engine, light attack/reconnaissance aircraft that first flew in July 1965 , and was involved in the Vietnam War (1955-1975) during the American flight era. A total of 360 were built, and although production was discontinued in 1986, the Philippine Air Force still operates the model.

The BCS Bronco II was originally known as an advanced high performance reconnaissance light aircraft.

The Bronco II continues to showcase the form and function of the original Mwari design. It houses two crew members in tandem under an unobstructed canopy with clear views. The rear crew member (co-pilot) is raised in the arrangement to see the front seats. The short nose assembly also assists the forward crew member (pilot) by providing excellent visibility of the terrain ahead.

An optional sensor is located at the "chin" of the aircraft, while another optional trainable unit is located further aft under the fuselage. Wing main aircraft, in their general form, are mounted straight along the sides of the fuselage and at shoulder height, providing excellent short-field performance and supporting "low and slow" flight envelopes.

The main plane also exhibits slight forward movement.

The aircraft maintains a compact size and can be disassembled and transported via a Lockheed C-130 Hercules turboprop tactical transport aircraft. An example can accommodate it. The larger Boeing C-17 Globemaster III series of strategic transport jets can transport up to two aircraft.

The engine is embedded in the rear of the fuselage nacelle and drives a multi-blade propeller unit located in the stern in a "thrust" arrangement. This leaves the front (and related views) completely unobstructed by the rotating propeller blades.

Each main wing element supports a rearwardly extending tail boom. These appendages are connected by a common horizontal plane and covered by a vertical rudder plane.

Conventional wheeled tricycle arrangement for ground travel. The assembly is partially retractable into the design, with some wheel surfaces exposed during flight.

The weapon kit for the Bronco II covers a wide variety of in-service weapons typically associated with CAS roles. Ammunition is distributed on six underwing hardpoints, with three hardpoints assigned to each wing element.

Weapon options include cannon pods, cannon pods, rocket pods, conventionally thrown bombs, precision-guided munitions, anti-tank missiles (ATGMs), air-to-air missiles (AAMs) (short-range types).

Other options include mission support equipment such as target pods. Modular pods below the aircraft allow for "in-flight" mission customization, allowing the aircraft to conduct targeted reconnaissance or attack engagements as needed.

USSOCOM plans to seek to find a low-cost, lightweight attack/reconnaissance platform to provide ground forces with a robust field CAS.

Specification

Basics

Year of Service

2023

Origins

United States

Status

Under development

Program is running.

Crew

2

Production

1

Manufacturer

Bronco Combat Systems (BCS) / Leidos / Vertex Aerospace - USA / Paramount Group - South Africa

Carrier

US (probably)

Roles

Ground attack (bombing, strafing)

The ability to conduct air strikes against ground targets using (but not limited to) artillery, bombs, rockets, rockets, etc.

Disable support (CAS)

Designed to operate near active ground elements with a wide range of air-to-surface weapon and ammunition options.

Special Mission: Search and Rescue (SAR)

Ability to locate and evacuate personnel from potentially hazardous or dangerous areas, such as downed pilots at sea.

Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR), reconnaissance

Monitor ground targets/target areas to assess surrounding threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

X-Plane (development, prototype, tech demo)

Aircraft designed for prototyping, technology demonstration, or research/data collection.

Special Forces

Serve special forces/special operations forces and missions.

Notable Features

Radar Capability

Houses may house (via specialized variants) radars for searching, tracking, and attacking enemy elements.

Countermeasures

Onboard electronic or physical countermeasures taken by the aircraft or pilot/crew to enhance survivability.

Armor

Armor assigned to protect the pilot/crew compartment and/or critical operating systems enhances survivability.

Fader support

The design features a rearward push rod arrangement in contrast to the more traditional pull rod arrangement.

Sturdy aircraft frame

The inherent ability of the airframe to take significant damage.

High performance

The ability to fly and operate at higher altitudes than the average aircraft of the day.

Extended range performance

Ability to travel long distances using on-board fuel supplies.

Depression in crew members

Support the pressurization required for crew survival at higher operating altitudes.

Crew management

In addition to the pilot, the aircraft also employs additional crew members who specialize in specific functions on the aircraft.

Closed crew room

There are partially or fully enclosed crew work areas.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

34.4 feet

(10.50m)

Width/span

39. 4 feet

(12.00m)

Height

13. 1 ft

(4.00m)

MTOW

8,818 lbs

(4,000 kg)

Main Aircraft Structure

Monoplane/Shoulder/Straight

Monoplane

Designed to use a single main wing main aircraft; this is the most popular arrangement of main aircraft.

Shoulder

The main aircraft is mounted on the upper part of the fuselage, usually on an imaginary line that intersects the pilot's shoulders.

Straight

Floor plans involve the use of simple, straight main plan elements.

(Structural descriptors refer to the base production variant Bronco Combat Systems Bronco II)

Performance

Installed:

1 x Pratt & Whitney PT6 hybrid arrangement of turboprop engines and battery packs driving a five-bladed propeller unit in a "thrust" arrangement aft of the fuselage.

Maximum speed

311 km/h

(500 km/h | 270 knots)

Maximum

31,168 feet

(9,500 m | 6 km)

Area

1,274 km

(2,050 km | 3,797 nautical miles)

Range (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: > 19030

Weapons

Six underwing hardpoints support typical close air support (CAS) weapons including cannon pods, cannon pods, laser-guided bombs, conventionally thrown bombs, anti-tank missiles ( ATGM), short-range air-to-air missiles (AAM), and rocket pods. There are also mission equipment, such as target pods.