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Bronco Combat Systems Bronco II


Light-Attack / Close-Air Support (CAS) Aircraft


United States | 2023



"The Bronco Ii is a rebranded and slightly modified version of the earlier South African Paramount AHRLAC Mwari light-attack platform."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Bronco Combat Systems Bronco II Light-Attack / Close-Air Support (CAS) Aircraft.
Hybrid-electric arrangement involving 1 x Pratt & Whitney PT6 turboprop engine with battery bank driving five-bladed propeller unit at rear of fuselage in "pusher" arrangement.
Propulsion
311 mph
500 kph | 270 kts
Max Speed
31,168 ft
9,500 m | 6 miles
Service Ceiling
1,274 miles
2,050 km | 1,107 nm
Operational Range
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Bronco Combat Systems Bronco II Light-Attack / Close-Air Support (CAS) Aircraft.
2
(MANNED)
Crew
34.4 ft
10.50 m
O/A Length
39.4 ft
(12.00 m)
O/A Width
13.1 ft
(4.00 m)
O/A Height
8,818 lb
(4,000 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Bronco Combat Systems Bronco II Light-Attack / Close-Air Support (CAS) Aircraft provided across 6 hardpoints.
Six underwing hardpoints supporting typical Close-Air Support (CAS) weaponry including gun pods, cannon pods, laser-guided bombs, conventional drop bombs, Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs), short-ranged Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs), and rocket pods.

Also mission equipment such as targeting pods.


X
X
X
X
X
X
Hardpoints Key:


Centerline
Wingroot(L)
Wingroot(R)
Wing
Wingtip
Internal
Not Used
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Bronco Combat Systems Bronco II family line.
"Bronco II" - Base Series Name.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/22/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Bronco Combat Systems (BCS) "Bronco II" is a rebranded version of the original Paramount Group AHRLAC (Mwari) Close-Air Support (CAS) / light attack platform (detailed elsewhere on this site) of South African origin. The new Bronco II emerged through a U.S-focused rebranding in 2018 set against a USAF light attack requirement and is currently (2020) being marketed for consideration to fulfill the United State Special Operations COMmand (USSOCOM) "Armed Overwatch" light-strike requirement. Leidos is leading the team with Paramount Group (U.S.) and Vertex Aerospace as sub-contractors. The flying portion of the competition is set to begin November 2020.

The South African Mwari aircraft was born in 2009 but has since failed to net any global interest.

The Bronco II name is an homage to the original North American Rockwell (now Boeing) "Bronco" twin-engine / twin-boom light attack / observation aircraft which first-flew in July of 1965 and saw considerable service during the American involvement in the Vietnam War (1955-1975). 360 units were built in all with the Philippine Air Force still flying the type despite production having ended in 1986.

The BCS Bronco II was originally known by the name of "Advanced High-Performance Reconnaissance Light Aircraft".

The Bronco II continues to showcase the form-and-function of the original Mwari design. It seats its crew of two in tandem under an unobstructed clear view canopy. The rear crewmember (co-pilot) is elevated in the arrangement with a view over the front seat. The short nose assembly also aids the forward crewmember (pilot) by providing exception vision of the terrain ahead. At the "chin" position of the aircraft is an optional sensor fit while another trainable unit, also optional, is seated under the fuselage further aft. The wing mainplanes are straight in their general shape and mounted at shoulder-height along the fuselage sides, providing excellent short-field performance and aiding "low-and-slow" flying envelopes. The mainplanes also exhibit slight forward sweeping.

The aircraft maintains compact dimensions that allow it to be broken down and shipped by Lockheed C-130 "Hercules" turboprop-powered tactical transports. A single example can fit in its hold. Up to two aircraft can be transported through the larger Boeing C-17 "Globemaster III" series jet-powered strategic transports.

The engine is buried within the aft section of the fuselage nacelle and drives a multi-bladed propeller unit at the rear in a "pusher" arrangement. This leaves the forward section (and its accompanying views) completely unobstructed by spinning propeller blades.

Each main wing member supports a tail boom which extends to the rear. These appendages are joined by a shared horizontal plane and are capped by vertical rudder planes.

For ground-running, a conventional wheeled tricycle arrangement is used. The arrangement is partially retractable into the design with some of the wheel surfaces exposed during flight.

The armament suite of the Bronco II runs the gamut of in-service weaponry commonly associated with the CAS role. Ordnance is spread about six underwing hardpoints with three hardpoints assigned to each wing member. Ordnance options include gun pods, cannon pods, rocket pods, conventional drop bombs, precision-guided munitions, Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs), Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs) (short-ranged types).

Other options include mission-support equipment such as targeting pods. A modular bay under the aircraft allows for "quick-changing" of the mission fit allowing the aircraft to undertake dedicated reconnaissance or attack sorties as needed.

The USSOCOM program is attempting to find a low-cost, light-attack / reconnaissance platform supplying ground forces with capable on-the-spot CAS.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

February 2018 - The Bronco II program launched.

May 2018 - Aviall has joined the Bronco Combat Systems team.

September 2021 - The Bronco II has been eliminated as a contender in the USAF's Armed Overwatch program.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Bronco Combat Systems Bronco II. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 1 Units

Contractor(s): Bronco Combat Systems (BCS) / Leidos / Vertex Aerospace - USA / Paramount Group - South Africa
National flag of the United States

[ United States (possible) ]
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Image of the Bronco Combat Systems Bronco II
Image from official Bronco Combat Systems press release.

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Going Further...
The Bronco Combat Systems Bronco II Light-Attack / Close-Air Support (CAS) Aircraft appears in the following collections:
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