I have been thinking about how to design a CAS/COIN plane for the higher mountains. It is our special need, just like the LCH. And so nobody makes a plane like that. I have expressed this before why I believe that the combat Hawk cannot get the job done. If the Jaguars with much better TWR cannot even get there, then there is no way that the Hawk can. Basically, we need a specialist.
Desirable characteristics.
1. It should be able to fly high and slow. Its job is not aerial battles. They operateon our side of the fence. And if attacked, it dives into the valleys for protection where fighters can't follow or missiles will break contact.
2. It is should be easy to maintain as it might be operating from advanced airfields.
3. It should have good hang time, so that when operating from airports in the hinterland, it can fly to the operation theater and stay there for long enough.
4. It is should be cheaper to build and maintain than advanced fighters.
5. It should be rugged enough and have redundant systems to take some hits and still keep flying.
Basic outlines
1. Empty weight ~5 Tons, MTOW ~9.5 Tons.
2. Armament: gun (integral or pod), LDP and LGBs. Total armament load: 2 Tons
3. Thrust: 2 X ~25 kN high bypass turbofans housed in rear mounted engine pods. There is no need to reinvent the wheel. Just get the pod+engine combo from any established business jet. The high bypass engines provide good performance and fuel efficiency at those altitudes. Coupled with an unconstricted airflow, this will allow very good take off and landing performance as well as low-speed maneuvering at high altitudes. These engines being used on civilian planes require much less maintenance and the podded arrangement allows very easy access. Additionally, their position limits FOD damage while operating from advanced fields as well as damage to the rest of the fuselage and the engine.
4. Lighted loaded wing with moderate sweep.
5. The cockpit and critical parts of the aircraft need armour protection.
6. It should be a two seater, so that the pilot can concentrate on negotiating the terrain, while the co-pilot can scan the slopes and ridges and man the weapons.
In theory, the plane that I am describing would look very similar to the Boeing's Skyfox trainer. Bu the way, that plane is a kit modification of the T-33. This is very similar to what we were discussing. Can be design a plane from existing pieces to shorten the development and testing time.
6. I am looking for ways in which the pilot has protection from shots fired at him after he has ejected. Are there known methods of jettisoning the cockpit itself at ejection. This allows the pilot additional shelter from the elements till help arrives.