| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Defense,Government contractor |
| Founded | Nevada, US, 2005 |
| Founder | Rolland C. Thompson |
| Headquarters | Reno-Stead Airport, Reno ,US |
Area served | U.S. and worldwide |
Key people | Rolland C. Thompson, President and CEO Ronald R. Fogleman, Board Chairman |
| Services | Commercial air services to the armed forces, including JTAC training, UAV chase, flight training and adversary support; Consulting services to military aviation fighter/attack and electronic attack communities |
| Subsidiaries | TacAir Global Corp |
| Website | www |
Tactical Air Support, Inc. (Tactical Air) is an Americandefense contractor headquartered inReno, Nevada atReno-Stead Airport. Some of its employees are former fighter weapons school and operationalcommanders, instructors, and/ortest pilots that specialize in advancedtacticalair support.[1] Tactical Air providesconsulting and commercial air services (includingJTAC training,UAV chase, flight training,maintenance,logistics, and adversary support) to U.S. and allied forces in a manner similar to theNaval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) and theUSAFWeapons School.[2] TacAir Global, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tactical Air Support, Inc., focuses on international training.[3] In 2013, Tactical Air began providing F-5 refresher training to the Botswana Defence Force.[4][5]
Tactical Air Support's flight operations began in 2008 when it became the first non-government company outside of Sukhoi trained to fly, operate, and maintain theSukhoi Su-27 Flanker.[6][7] In September 2011, Tactical Air received anEmbraer A-29 Super Tucano in contract-ready condition. The two-seat, turboprop Super Tucano is a specialty military light-attack aircraft renowned for its capabilities in counter-insurgency and air-to-ground bombing, and is the only one of its kind offered in the U.S. through an Aerospace/Defense services contractor as Tactical Air is the only commercial operator currently flying one.[5][8][9]In 2013, the company added fourCanadair CF-5D Freedom Fighters and an F-5B, (supersonic fighter/attack aircraft all two-seater ) and 20 years' worth of spare F-5 parts to its existingaircraft fleet.[10] The company's fleet also includesAero L-39 Albatros jet trainer/light attack aircraft,Marchetti SF-260TP andSM-1019 turboprop light attack/utility aircraft, andMooney M20E andCirrus SR20 aircraft used for UAV chase and pilot currency.[5]In 2017, 21 F-5 E/F were recovered fromRoyal Jordanian Air Force.[11]
Tactical Air Support is made up ofU.S. Navy,Marine Corps, andAir Force tacticaljet fighter pilots, most of whom served 20 or more years on active duty. Several of theaircrew still serve and fly in theReserves andAir National Guard. Nearly every member of Tactical Air is a weapons school graduate (USN/USMC/USAF) and most are formerTOPGUN instructors.[5]
Tactical Air Support's aircrew serve as consultants and tactical subject matter experts forNaval Air Systems Command,Navy Warfare Development Command, NSAWC, and others. It partners with larger defense industry companies (includingLockheed Martin,Wyle,ManTech, andMITRE) on projects that need recent tactical expertise and rapid reach back to the warfare centers of excellence. This support includes technical publication development, project management, tactics development & evaluation, modeling & simulation, and tactical training.[1]
Tactical Air Support's board of directors is chaired by GeneralRonald Fogleman (former Chief of Staff, USAF) and consists of business leaders and retired USN and USMC flag/general officers that served as leaders in their respective service's tactical jet communities.[12]