Tunisia First to Buy Armed AT-6C Aircraft from US?

The US State Department has given its approval for the sale of 4 AT-6C Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft and related equipment to Tunisia for an estimated $325.8 million, which could be the first sale of the armed variant of the aircraft.

Last October, the US authorized the sale of a dozen T-6C Texan trainer aircraft to Tunisia for $234 million. About a year earlier, Nigeria's request to procure 12 trainer versions of the Textron aircraft for $344.7 million was greenlit by the US.

The State Department previously cleared an export package with 24 AT-6Cs for Iraq in 2014, but the order was never signed. The US Air Force's plan to buy 3 AT-6Cs to conduct more light attack experiments at Nellis AFB, Nevada, has also been delayed.

So if the current deal materialises, Tunisia will become the first customer of the AT-6C aircraft. Another Tunisian deal that was reportedly recently signed includes the one for 9 Medium Class Multi-Purpose Armored Vehicles (MPAVs) from Turkey.

According to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency statement released on Wednesday, the Government of Tunisia had also requested to procure three hundred twelve (312) MAU-169 Computer Control Groups (CCG); three hundred twelve (312) MXU-1006/B Air Foil Groups (AFG); four hundred sixty-eight (468) MK81 250 LB GP bombs; eighteen (18) BDU-50s (MK-82 Filled Inert); sixty-six (66) MXU-650 C/B Air Foil Groups (AFG), GBU-12; sixty (60) Guidance Section, guided bombs, MAU-209, GBU-10,12,16; forty-eight (48) MK-82 500lb bombs; five hundred sixteen (516) FMU-152 A/B fuzes; eighteen (18) MAU-169H(D-2)/B Computer Control Groups; and three thousand two hundred ninety (3,290) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS); two (2) Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68D 1600 SHP engines (spares); six (6) L-3 WESCAM MX 15D Multi-Spectral Targeting System; six (6) Machine Gun Caliber .50; Cartridge Actuated Device/Propellant Actuated Device (CAD/PAD); High Explosive Warhead; bomb components, repair and return of weapons, weapons training equipment, practice bombs, TTU 595 Test Set and spares, fin assemblies, rocket motors, training aids/devices/spare parts, aircraft spare parts, support equipment, clothing and textiles, publications and technical documentation, travel expenses, medical services, construction, aircraft ferry support, technical and logistical support services, major modifications/class IV support, personnel training and training equipment, US Government and contractor program support, and other related elements of logistics and program support.