A-90 RAIDER
The A-90 Raider is an optimally designed aircraft used for Close Air Support (CAS) training, exclusively by Blue Air Training. The A-90 Raider is extremely effective as a JTAC training platform
FROM REDIGO TO RAIDER
Originally known as the L-90, the aircraft was designed and manufactured by Valmet in the 1980s, making its first flight in 1986. The Redigo was developed as a military trainer aircraft primarily used for pilot training and airframes were produced for the Finnish Air Force, the Mexican Navy, and the Eritrean Air Force. Italian aircraft manufacturer Aermacchi later bought the license to produce the Redigo, rebranding it as the M-290. While it has always carried the hardpoints for weapons, it has not been used for that role.
Until now.
In 2017, Blue Air Training procured the remaining equipment, parts, and spares from Valmet. After importing the aircraft and upgrading them to meet the requirements of Blue Air Training’s current and future contracts with the United States Air Force, the new U.S. version was
CAPABILITIES AND PERFORMANCE
General characteristics
Crew: 2 pilots
Capacity: 2 troops
Dimensions: 28 ft long x 35 ft wingspan x 11 ft tall
Max Gross Weight: 4,188 lbs with external stores
Powerplant: Rolls-Royce M250 B-17F turboprop engine
The fuselage is made from an all-metal, fail-safe,
semi-monocoque structure
Upgraded advanced avionics and glass cockpit to include ADS-B and satellite weather
Digital Oxygen system thereby enabling aircraft operation to 25,000 feet
Night and Loft delivery capable
Performance
Cruise speed: 190 KTAS
Maximum Speed (VDO ): 280 KIAS
Climb: 2,697 feet per minute
Range: 860 NM (2 x weapons stores / 2 x fuel tanks at 20,000 feet)
Endurance: 4.5+ hours
Service ceiling: FL250
Armament
6 x Hardpoints, capable of carrying:
Bombs: MALTS-4 Smart Weapons Rack. 4 x BDU-33 or 2 x Laser Guided training Rounds (LGTR)
Gun: 500 rounds of 7.62mm per M-240 gun pod
Rockets: 7 x 2.75” Rockets per LAU-131 rocket pod
Extended range external fuel tanks
Communications
Cursor On Target communications NAV suite allows the crew to execute digitally aided close air support (DACAS) at night.
Two Encrypted Multiband UHF/FM/ VHF radios provide pilots with seamless communications with the airmen on the ground.
The ability to utilize tactical datalink through the Harris ANW2 Mesh Network.
Link-16 for Digitally aided Close Air Support (DaCAS)
SETTING A NEW TRAINING STANDARD
With our new fleet of Raiders, Blue Air Training will lead the way in providing the best and most cost-efficient training experience for our clients’ personnel to perform the difficult but essential mission of calling in Close Air Support on current and future battlefields.