It's a small propeller driven aircraft intended to carry light cargo and troops, but the proposed Joint Cargo Aircraft slips in and out of sight ,as if it had stealth capabilities.
Now it's in view again, as Army and Air Force officials on June 21 signed an agreement to jointly develop the aircraft, stipulating that an update to a 2005
analysis of alternatives would be completed by July 2007,But the agreement also appears to push back by two years - to 2010 - the aircrafts delivery time to the Army. In March, Army and Air Force officials
announced plans to draft a memorandum of agreement on the aircraft, even projecting that a contractor would be selected in December and that the Army would get its first aircraft in 2008.
But just two months later, based on remarks by Air Force officials that the Air Force wouldn't be buying the plane until about 2010, a Senate Armed
Services subcommittee removed from next year's proposed national defense budget more than $100 million that the Army intended to use for the program.
If the program funding survive does the budget process, the Army plans to award a contract in February 2007 and take delivery of the first aircraft in fiscal 2010.
Calls to the Army, which is the lead agent in the program, were not returned by press time.
Though both Army and Air Force officials say they need and want the small cargo aircraft, it is the Army that has demonstrated the greatest demand. The
service wants the aircraft to replace its aging fleet of Shorts C-23 Sherpa aircraft, which it uses to get troops and supplies into areas where helicopters may
not be able to operate.
Previously, the Army talked about acquiring 145 of the aircraft, though it was expected that number would change once the Air Force spelled out its
requirements. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley has estimated that of a total 145 aircraft, the Army would get 45.
Now it's in view again, as Army and Air Force officials on June 21 signed an agreement to jointly develop the aircraft, stipulating that an update to a 2005
analysis of alternatives would be completed by July 2007,But the agreement also appears to push back by two years - to 2010 - the aircrafts delivery time to the Army. In March, Army and Air Force officials
announced plans to draft a memorandum of agreement on the aircraft, even projecting that a contractor would be selected in December and that the Army would get its first aircraft in 2008.
But just two months later, based on remarks by Air Force officials that the Air Force wouldn't be buying the plane until about 2010, a Senate Armed
Services subcommittee removed from next year's proposed national defense budget more than $100 million that the Army intended to use for the program.
If the program funding survive does the budget process, the Army plans to award a contract in February 2007 and take delivery of the first aircraft in fiscal 2010.
Calls to the Army, which is the lead agent in the program, were not returned by press time.
Though both Army and Air Force officials say they need and want the small cargo aircraft, it is the Army that has demonstrated the greatest demand. The
service wants the aircraft to replace its aging fleet of Shorts C-23 Sherpa aircraft, which it uses to get troops and supplies into areas where helicopters may
not be able to operate.
Previously, the Army talked about acquiring 145 of the aircraft, though it was expected that number would change once the Air Force spelled out its
requirements. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley has estimated that of a total 145 aircraft, the Army would get 45.