The lucrative USAF T-X advanced jet trainer replacement program is heating up, with several major and minor contenders of note.
The United States Air Force (USAF) is actively looking for a successor to its storied line of Northrop T-38 advanced trainer aircraft. Front-runners in the bid, which is currently valued at $16.3 billion and covers a total of 350 aircraft, are Lockheed Martin and Boeing of the United States and Leonardo of Italy. Lockheed Martin is pushing its T-50A which is based on the T-50 developed for the South Korean Air Force. The Boeing entry, the BTX, is a clean-sheet design developed in cooperation with Sweden's Saab. Leonardo, consisdered the long-shot of the trio, is offering its market-proven T-100. All three aircraft would see final assembly in the United States though all would require some components to be shipped from overseas (South Korea, Sweden and Italy). Initial Operating Capability is set for 2024.
Northrop Grumman removed itself from the competition in February of 2017.
September 27th, 2018: The United States has officially announced a $9 billion USN deal with Boeing (Boeing-Saab Team) to make its T-X proposal the next advanced trainer of the service.
There are a total of [ 5 ] T-X Aircraft Competition entries in the Military Factory. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order (1-to-Z). Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator.
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