The Senate Armed Services Committee’s defense policy bill for fiscal 2018 would provide the U.S. Air Force with $1.2 billion in funds to acquire a new light attack aircraft through the OA-X procurement program, Defense News reported Thursday.The Senate panel approved its version of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act through a unanimous vote Wednesday.
“The idea behind putting in funding is to actually move this program along,†a Senate aide told reporters Thursday.
“The best way to do that is to provide funding to get the program started.â€
The Air Force plans to decide on the potential OA-X program once it conducts a flight demonstration in August at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.
A team composed of Sierra Nevada and Embraer’s defense and security business will participate in the event to demonstrate the A-29 Super Tucano aircraft.
Textron will also showcase the Scorpion jet and AT-6 aircraft at the event, the report added.
