Page 44 - Combat Aircraft (January 2020)

INDUSTRY REPORT // CONTRACTED CLOSE AIR SUPPORT

and CAS aircraft like the A-10. Describing brothers who are former Delta [Force] or upgrading of the company’s eet
how Valkyrie supported the exercise, sons who are Rangers that are down- (including the forthcoming addition
McCutchan said, ‘We primarily did ISR range, so we want to make sure that of Link 16 to further enhance digital
and what’s called ECAS — emergency we are putting out the highest-quality interoperability), and with the recent
CAS. We were supporting PJs, so it was a product we possibly can.’ partnership with ATAC, Valkyrie seems
lot of night ying, a lot of ISR, and a lot of Regardless of professional or familial poised to prove its worth.
ECAS as well.’ connections, Valkyrie aims to provide In addition to traveling where needed
More recently, Valkyrie supported the very best in contract CAS and JTAC to support training, Valkyrie has its own
a week-long training detachment in instruction. McCutchan stated, ‘We set the facility. Keebaugh said, ‘We’ve also got
September for a group of NATO JTACs at bar very high for ourselves. Ultimately, our a range in Texas — 252 square miles of
the company’s own private range in Texas. goal is to ensure that JTACs are current privately owned land where we’re building
Then on October 18, Valkyrie — again in and that they are pro cient, so that when target villages. We’ve got a runway,
partnership with ATAC — was awarded they deploy they have a better chance of lodging, and the ability to feed people out
part of the USAF’s massive Combat Air coming home and bringing their friends there. We’ve got rotary-wing support built
Force Contracted Air Support (CAFCAS) home with them. That’s something we in, role-players at the ready, and military
contract. Valued at $6.4 billion and spread take very seriously, and it’s something that vehicles that can be used.’ Along with
among seven service providers, this will is at the core of the company.’ providing an immersive pre-deployment
meet many of the air force’s air-to-air and training environment, this facility could
JTAC training needs. Valkyrie’s Tucanos Evolution and expansion ease scheduling pressures on the few
are expected to y CCAS sorties out of 10 Looking towards the future, McCutchan One of Valkyrie’s military ranges designated for JTAC
operating locations. sees the need for CCAS developing further. ex-RAF S312s, training in the US.
He said, ‘We think the contract CAS market serial ZF267 — Valkyrie’s leadership is con dent that
Skin in the Game will continue to grow exponentially over now registered the company brings the perfect mix of
N267TC — on the
Being long-time veterans of the CAS the next few years. This is something that ramp in front of expertise, mission-suitable hardware,
community, Valkyrie’s pilots and JTACs I think the government has gured out, the company’s technology, safety, and a ordability to the
have personal connections to the service that it is incredibly wasteful monetarily, hangar at Falcon CCAS mission to make it a peer-leading
Field. Though
members they are supporting, adding an and with man-hours, maintenance hours, the EMB-312 and solution to two burgeoning problems.
extra incentive to provide the best training blade hours, and all that together to go S312 share a Summarizing what he thinks Valkyrie’s
they can. As Keebaugh said, ‘I personally out and train JTACs with F-35s, F-16s, and common pedigree combination brings to the CCAS mission,
and have similar
know the customer. The guys that we are F-18s. We think that about an 80:20 mix capabilities, there McCutchan told Combat Aircraft, ‘Our
supporting are guys that I served with. is around the right ratio for having guys are in excess of average [JTAC] controls per hour are much
They deserve the best training that’s going being able to be pro cient, current, and 900 differences higher than the military can produce, and
between the two
to make them more than likely have a then also work with [military assets] so Tucano variants. we think that we’re higher than any of our
better chance for coming home.’ For other they can see the real thing and stay good The current focus competitors as well. That’s because of the
Valkyrie instructors, the connections with the real thing as well.’ of Valkyrie’s e ciency and capabilities of the aircraft
upgrade efforts
are even more personal. According to With a growing résumé of successfully is the company’s and the technologies that are integrated
McCutchan, ‘A lot of our pilots also have executed contracts and continued EMB-312F fl eet. into them.’

44 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero

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