[Peace-discuss] Blackwater-Airforce

[Roger Epperson]

In addition to their construction business, expanding
maritime capabilities, airforce transport capability,
parachute precision drop force, etc., Blackwater has
purchased two bombers--Super Tucanos.
 
Isn't there a federal law that prohibits US companies
from estabishing a private army?  I know that citizens
can possess fire arms, but if my neighbor had a
mechanizied army I would be concerned. 


      
August 27, 2007: Security company Blackwater U.S.A. is
buying several Super Tucano light combat aircraft from
the Brazilian manufacturer Embraer. These five ton,
single engine, single seat aircraft are built for
pilot training, but also perform quite well for
counter-insurgency work. Brazil. The Super Tucano is
basically a prop driven trainer that is equipped for
combat missions. The aircraft can carry up to 1.5 tons
of weapons, including 12.7mm machine-guns, bombs and
missiles. The aircraft cruises at about 500 kilometers
an hour and can stay in the air for about 6.5 hours
per sortie. One of the options is a FLIR (infrared
radar that produces a photo realistic video image in
any weather) and a fire control system for bombing.
Colombia is using the Super Tucanos for
counter-insurgency work (there are over 20,000 armed
rebels and drug gang gunmen in the country). The
aircraft is also used for border patrol. The U.S. Air
Force is watching that quite closely. The Super Tucano
costs $9 million each, and come in one or two seat
versions. The bubble canopy provides excellent
visibility. This, coupled with its slow speed (versus
jets), makes it an excellent ground attack aircraft. 
 

Blackwater already has a force of armed helicopters in
Iraq, and apparently wants something a little faster,
and more heavily armed, to fulfill its security
contracts overseas.

 



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