Turbofan Machete

The Machete is Stavatti’s family of next generation Close Air Support, Attack, Counter Insurgency, Lead-In Fighter, Air Defense Fighter and Advanced Pilot Trainer aircraft. A series of aircraft designed to satisfy a breadth of military aviation requirements with a modular airframe, the Machete family includes the SM-27 Turboprop Machete, the SM-28 Turbofan Machete and the SM-47 Super Machete.

The SM-28 Machete is a next generation single engine Attack aircraft optimized for Close Air Support (CAS), Anti-Armor, Precision All-Weather Attack, Interdiction, Maritime Strike and Lead-In Training. Powered by a 14,000 lb class GEAE F414 non-afterburning derivative turbofan, the SM-28 is a three surface aircraft featuring a moderate aspect ratio wing, canard foreplanes, twin vertical stabilizers and an all moving horizontal tail. With a maximum level speed in excess of 0.85 Mach, the SM-28 is armed with a 30mm cannon and can carry up to 12,000 lbs of ordnance over a tactical radius greater than 670 nm.

The SM-28 is a single engine non-afterburning turbofan powered Attack, CAS, Anti-Armor, Strike, Interdiction and Lead-In Trainer aircraft. Armed with a 30mm cannon and able to carry 12,000 lbs of stores, the SM-28 will be produced in single (S) and two seat tandem (T) configurations and offer a maximum speed of over 0.85 Mach with a tactical radius of over 700 nm on internal fuel. Heavily armored and benefiting from foam metal sandwich construction, the SM-28S can replace A-10s with greater efficiency and survivability. The SM-28 can also serve as an alternative to the F/A-35 in the attack/CAS role and as a replacement for advanced trainers worldwide. The SM-28 is now under development.

Featuring an F-16 style, all-glass cockpit that incorporates F-16 flight control grips and reclined Martin Baker Mk16 or Mk18 or ACES 5 ejection seats, the SM-28 Machete will be produced in single seat attack (SM-28S), two seat tandem strike or trainer (SM-28T) and unpiloted/autonomous (SM-28U) configurations. With in-flight refueling capability, integrated avionics and 9-g plus maneuverability in the clean configuration, the turbofan Machete is the jet-powered sibling of the SM-27, still built for austere strips, Direct Commercial Sale, DDTC-compliant.