T-X program

The USAF's Air Education and Training Command (AETC) began developing the requirements for a replacement for the Northrop T-38 Talon as early as 2003.[6] Shrinking budgets and the need to fund higher priority modernization projects pushed the full implementation of the yet-to-be-selected T-X aircraft to "fiscal year 2023 or 2024".[13][14] One of the driving requirements for the new trainer will be to help prepare pilots for the increased complexity in some areas, particularly information management, that are a part of fifth generation jet fighters like the F-22 Raptor and the F-35 Lightning II.With the T-X already invested in, making it a multirole combat and training plane could defray costs of developing a new attack jet that can operate efficiently in a low-threat environment.On 22 February 2016, Raytheon announced it was replacing General Dynamics and going to head-up the bid in the US for the T-X program, as the primary contractor, teamed with Leonardo, Honeywell Aerospace, and CAE USA Inc.Referred to as the "T-X demonstrator aircraft", it adds to the T-50 airframe the ability for aerial refueling, embedded ground training systems, and a large area display in place of the five smaller screens.Lockheed Martin's upgraded T-50A jet trainer successfully completed its first flight test in June 2016 in Sacheon, South Korea, a key milestone for the aircraft.[42][43] Northrop Grumman with partners BAE Systems, L-3 Communications, and Rolls-Royce Holdings, initially had intentions of proposing an updated version of the Hawk T2/128 for the T-X program.[45] However, in 2015, Northrop Grumman was no longer submitting the Hawk for T-X consideration, primarily due to airframe performance shortcomings with maneuvers such as high angle-of-attack and sustained accelerations, as well as concerns regarding affordability.[46] On 19 August 2016 in Mojave, Northrop Grumman publicly revealed a model of its T-X concept powered by a single GE F404-102D engine.[citation needed] The companies have formed the Freedom Aircraft Ventures LLC in Centennial, Colorado to develop a lightweight, all-composite trainer for the competition.[51] Additionally, during the Farnborough 2014 Airshow, Textron representatives expressed significant interest in the T-X program, and indicated they were closely following the progression of the draft requirements.
A USAF Northrop T-38 Talon from the 560th Flying Training Squadron. The T-38 is to be replaced as the USAF advanced jet trainer by the T-X program winner, the Boeing T-X, now known as the T-7 Red Hawk.
T-100 at the Farnborough Airshow in 2018
T-50 Golden Eagle
Textron AirLand Scorpion
Fast-jet trainerUnited States Air ForceBoeing/Saab T-XLeonardo T-100Lockheed Martin/KAI T-50AT-7 Red HawktrainerNorthrop T-38 TalonAir Education and Training Commandfifth generation jet fightersF-22 RaptorF-35 Lightning IIaerial refuelingavailabilitylife-cycle costsUnited States Navyclose air supportA-10 Thunderbolt IIpursue other aircraft to meet CAS requirementsLeonardo S.p.A.Korea Aerospace IndustriesLockheed MartinT-50 Golden EagleBoeingSaab GroupBoeing T-XSierra Nevada CorporationTurkish Aerospace IndustriesBoeing–Saab T-7 Red HawkFarnborough AirshowM-346 MasterGeneral DynamicsCAE Inc.LeonardoRaytheonHoneywell AerospaceHoneywell/ITEC F124Leonardo DRSMoton FieldTuskegee, AlabamaavionicsPark Geun-hyeSacheonNorthrop GrummanBAE SystemsL-3 CommunicationsRolls-Royce HoldingsHawk T2/128T-38 TalonMcDonnell DouglasT-45C GoshawkNaval AviatorsNaval Flight OfficersU.S. NavyU.S. Marine CorpsRolls-RoyceAdour Mk951Scaled CompositesGE F404-102Dmaximum takeoff weightTAI HürjetTextron AirLandTextronTextron AirLand ScorpionJoint Primary Aircraft Training SystemAviation Week & Space TechnologyDefense NewsFlightGlobalAviation International NewsDefense Update