Navy interest in Scorpion Jet as Textron seeks USAF certification

Textron AirLand is courting the US Navy in its quest for a Scorpion Jet launch customer, with the seafaring service exploring ways to keep its Boeing F/A-18 pilots mission-ready without having to put too many extra flight hours on its war-fatigued fighters.

The Scorpion project is also pursuing airworthiness certification with the US Air Force under a new initiative designed to make American military products more attractive on the international market.

Textron AirLand president Bill Anderson says the subsonic surveillance and strike aircraft attracted significant interest from several prospective international customers during a recent visit to Washington, DC, but the team also engaged with representatives from the US Defence Department and navy.

Read more