On March 31, the U.S. Navy officially released a new Request for Information (RFI) for the program that will lead to the acquisition of an advanced trainer to replace its T-45 Goshawk aircraft. Notably, this latest RFI eliminates the previously stipulated requirement for the new design to be capable of landing on the force’s nuclear aircraft carriers. This marks the fifth time an RFI has been issued for this program, which is expected to award the corresponding contract by 2027.
Expanding on some details, it is also noteworthy that Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) will no longer be conducted using land-based runways modified to simulate the dimensions of an aircraft carrier deck. Instead, the new plans will limit training to approach maneuvers without actually touching the runway. According to official statements: “Due to advancements in operational platform landing modes and in ground-based simulation, the UJTS air vehicle will only be required to conduct field carrier landing practice to wave off.”
This change is significant, as advancements in flight simulators will allow pilots to train on the ground in a manner nearly identical to previous in-aircraft training. The increased automation and digitalization of the simulation platform will also reduce costs and delivery timelines for the new advanced trainer, as it will no longer require a reinforced landing gear and tail hook in its design.
Regarding the effort to reduce the timeline for achieving Initial Operational Capability, the latest RFI issued by the U.S. Navy specifies the need to reach this milestone in less than three years from the contract signing. This urgency is driven by the need to replace the aging fleet of T-45 Goshawk aircraft currently in service, which have faced frequent technical issues limiting their operational readiness. A recent example of this was the grounding of the fleet on March 11, after engine failures were discovered in the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour F405-RR-401 engine powering one of the aircraft.
For now, reports indicate that the program has narrowed its list of candidates to three potential designs: the TF-50N, developed by Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI); the M-346, promoted by Leonardo in partnership with Textron Aviation Defense; and the T-7A Red Hawk, presented by Boeing. However, a strong focus has also been placed on the previously mentioned ground-based training capabilities, which are divided into four main areas: Operational Flight Trainers, Unit Training Devices, Cockpit Procedure Trainers, and Desktop Avionics Trainers.
Finally, regarding the technical requirements the new advanced trainer must meet, it has been decided to integrate new HUDs and large touchscreen displays in both seats of the aircraft, designed to replicate the cockpit environment of the F-35C and F/A-18 fighters that pilots may fly after graduation. Additionally, the aircraft must be capable of reaching speeds of up to Mach 0.9 and sustaining angles of attack greater than 20 degrees. It must also withstand a sustained load factor of 6 G and operate at altitudes of up to 41,000 feet. Furthermore, each unit will be equipped with wing-mounted pylons capable of integrating external fuel tanks and Mk-76 practice bombs.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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