Tunisia is set to acquire four AT-6 Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft from U.S. after State Department approved the deal. The sale of the four AT-6C Wolverine light attack aircraft with supporting equipment is estimated to be worth $325.8 million according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The acquisition will enable Tunisia military improve its ability to counter the current and future threats of violent extremist organizations. The AT-6 attack aircraft will bolster military’s capability to respond and to engage threats in multiple areas across the country.
The sale will include; gravity and guided munitions, including 468 Mark 81 250-lb bombs, 48 500-lb Mark 82 bombs, Paveway II laser guidance units, 3,290 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser guidance units for 2.75-inch rockets, six .50 caliber machine guns, and six L-3 WESCAM MX 15D Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems.
AT-6 Wolverine is a two-seater aircraft and is the armed version of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan propellor-driven trainer aircraft. The aircraft is designed to deliver close air support, precision strike and reconnaissance capabilities in low-intensity or permissive environments.
U.S. State Department in October 2019, approved the $234 million sale of 12 T-6 Texans to Tunisia, a sale that DSCA said at the time would help Tunisia bolster counter-terrorism and border security missions.
Worldwide, interest in light attack aircraft, particularly propellor-driven models, significantly has increased in recent years. The AT-6 Wolverine continue to be in demand alongside other aircraft, notably the rival Embraer/Sierra Nevada A-29 Super Tucano.
