SNC MC-145B Wily Coyote

Armed Overwatch CAS Aircraft [ 2021 ]

The SNC MC-145B Wily Coyote is an evolved CAS-minded form of the USAF C-145A Combat Coyote.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/02/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

Image from official SNC marketing materials.

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The SNC MC-145B "Wily Coyote" (or "Coyote") is an American high-winged, special-mission aircraft based in the proven Polish-originated PZL M28 "Skytruck" - itself forged from the storied Soviet-era Antonov An-28 ("Cash") turboprop airliner/utility transport. The United States Air Force (USAF) has operated the M28 in number and its special operations arm knows it as the C-145A "Combat Coyote", the variant powered by Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65B turboprop engines. The MC-145B is an extension of this series, representing a reworked entry for the low-altitude, low-speed "Armed Overwatch" role and currently marketed by the Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC).

The MC-145B was born through a May 2021 U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) contract issued to SNC to modify the M28/C-145 for the purposes of armed, loitering support under the "Armed Overwatch" program. The subsequent revision involved installation of various specialized mission systems and sensors for the role as well as detailing supported weapons fits. A ramp-launch capability was added by way of implementation of 8 x Common Launch Tubes (CLTs) at the rear of the cargo hold. The result was the MC-145B "Wily Coyote" - or simply "Coyote" - two aircraft completed by the company while the Arizona Department of Public Safety followed with acquisition of a single airframe.

For the MC-145B, SNC is partnered with defense powerhouse Lockheed Martin which holds PZL Mielec as a subsidiary.

Externally, the airframe retains the proven qualities of the Polish M28, particularly its shoulder-mounted wing mainplane installation which provides the needed lift-versus-drag and low-speed/low-altitude handling. This gives the aircraft excellent short-field performance and its rugged design allows it to be operated under austere conditions. The fixed tricycle undercarriage is reinforced for rough-field operation and the type provides safety and reliability in a warzone through a multi-engine setup. The engines, one turboprop slung under each mainplane, feed from an upgraded fuel store arrangement which provides for enhanced range and increased mission/loitering endurance times. Multiple sensors are embedded into the retractable chin-mounted blister unit giving excellent traverse over the area ahead of the aircraft.

The rear ramp provides ground operators with unfettered access to the hold within. The inherent flexibility of the Coyote design allows the cargo area to be configured to suit the mission need; general cargo for airdrop/resupply, paratrooper holding area, MEDEVAC/CASEVEAC, tactical airlifting, and dispensing of ramp-launched munitions. The latter-most function supports GBU-69 Small Glide Munitions (SGMs) and the Raytheon AGM-176 "Griffin" precision-guided munition.

Externally, the aircraft can be outfitted to carry AGM-114 "Hellfire" Anti-Tank Guided-Missiles (ATGMs), AGR-20 APKWS precision-guided rockets, and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs) across four available hardpoints. The stations are installed outboard of the engine nacelles and wing bracing strut.

The mainplanes are braced against the sides of the fuselage and the tail unit comprises twin-rudder fins along a shared horizontal plane.

Internally, the twin-seat digital cockpit (based in the "common" U-28 cockpit design) sports two large Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) for each crewman as well as redundant control yokes with a shared throttle quadrant. A touchscreen panel allows for pertinent mission displays to be featured and navigation/comms are within easy reach of either crewman. The center console is home to an auxiliary audio panel, communications controls, and forward sensor / modular sensor control panels. The left side panel (left of the pilot) offers management of oxygen, the Helmet-Mounted Display (HMD), ALE-47 system, and audio (this is duplicated at the co-pilot's side panel save for the ALE-47 control zone). The cockpit has a focus on workload reduction, features an auto-throttle function, autopilot, and various mechanisms in place for crew and system safety/reliability.©MilitaryFactory.com

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November 2021 - The first prototype of the MC-145B has been revealed by PZL Mielec and Sierra Nevada.

August 2022 - The AirTractor AT-802U "Sky Warden" was selected by US SOCOM ahead of the SNC MC-145 "Wily Coyote" design for the Armed Overwatch program.

Specifications

Service Year

2021

Origin

United States

Status

ACTIVE
In Limited Service.

Crew

2

Production

3
UNITS

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) / Lockheed Martin - USA; PZL Mielec - Poland

(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)

United States

(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)

✓ Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.

✓ Close-Air Support (CAS)
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

✓ Special-Mission: MEDical EVACuation (MEDEVAC)
Extraction of wounded combat or civilian elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and available internal volume or external carrying capability.

✓ Special-Mission: Search & Rescue (SAR)
Ability to locate and extract personnel from areas of potential harm or peril (i.e. downed airmen in the sea).

✓ Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.

✓ Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

✓ Special Forces
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.

RADAR-CAPABLE

Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.

COUNTERMEASURES

Survivability enhanced by way of onboard electronic or physical countermeasures enacted by the aircraft or pilot/crew.

ARMORING

Survivability enhanced by armor allocated to protect pilot / crewspaces and / or critical operating systems.

MULTI-ENGINE

Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.

RUGGED AIRFRAME

Inherent ability of airframe to take considerable damage.

INTERNAL BAY

Fuselage volume includes space for internally-held weapons or special-mission equipment.

EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE

Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.

CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION

Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.

CREW-MANAGED

Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.

ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)

Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.

ENHANCED ACCESS

Design incorporates feature(s) that facilitates loading / unloading of cargo / personnel from the aircraft.

Length

43.0 ft
(13.11 m)

Width/Span

72.3 ft
(22.04 m)

Height

16.1 ft
(4.91 m)

Empty Wgt

9,921 lb
(4,500 kg)

MTOW

16,535 lb
(7,500 kg)

Wgt Diff

+6,614 lb
(+3,000 kg)

(Showcased structural values pertain to the MC-145B production variant)

monoplane / shoulder-mounted / straight

Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.

Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.

Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.

(Structural descriptors pertain to the MC-145B production variant)

Installed: 2 x Pratt & Whitney PT6A-54B turboprop engines driving five-bladed propeller units each.

Max Speed

258 mph
(415 kph | 224 kts)

Cruise Speed

205 mph
(330 kph | 178 kts)

Max. Speed Diff

+53 mph
(+85 kph | 46 kts)

Ceiling

25,000 ft
(7,620 m | 5 mi)

Range

1,162 mi
(1,870 km | 3,463 nm)

Rate-of-Climb

2,420 ft/min
(738 m/min)

♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the MC-145B production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)

VARIABLE:
Ramp-launched GBU-69 Small Glide Munitions / Raytheon AGM-176 "Griffin" precision-guided munition drop bombs / guided bombers.

AGM-114 "Hellfire" Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs), AGR-20 APKWS precision-guided rockets, and/or GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs (SDBs) across four external, underwing hardpoints.

Supported Types

Graphical image of an aircraft air-to-surface missile

Graphical image of an aircraft anti-tank guided missile

Graphical image of aircraft aerial rockets

Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition

Graphical image of an aircraft guided bomb munition

(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)

Hardpoint Mountings: 4

Mounting Points

-

9

7

-

6

8

-

HARDPOINT(S) KEY:

X

15

13

11

9

7

5

3

1

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

COLOR KEY:

Fuselage Centerline

Fuselage Port/Wingroot

Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot

Wing/Underwing

Wingtip Mount(s)

Internal Bay(s)

Not Used

Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).

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