The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) confirmed the acquisition of its first Beechcraft T-6 Texan II advanced trainer aircraft under an initial contract signed with Textron Aviation Defense LLC, a subsidiary of Textron Inc., in coordination with Kanematsu Corporation. The agreement includes the delivery of two aircraft, along with training materials for instructor pilots and maintenance personnel, with entry into service scheduled for 2029.
On December 3, 2024, the JASDF officially confirmed the selection of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II as its new advanced training platform. The decision followed an evaluation process that considered factors such as interoperability, operating and maintenance costs, and the ability to integrate with training systems already used by allied air forces.
The selection of the U.S.-built aircraft responded to the need to replace trainers currently in service and to ensure a pilot training system aligned with NATO and U.S. Air Force standards, prevailing over other proposals evaluated, including the PC-7MKX, backed by Subaru, and the Hürkuş, supported by The Hundred Trading Corp.
Travis Tyler, President and CEO of Textron Aviation Defense, emphasized that the contract represents a fundamental step in strengthening Japan’s next-generation pilot training capabilities. “We are honored to support the Japan Air Self-Defense Force with a proven, interoperable system trusted by air forces around the world and designed to meet Japan’s mission needs for decades to come,” he stated.
This contract is expected to be the first in a series of subsequent acquisitions that will consolidate a new integrated training system for Japanese military aviation, intended to replace the current Fuji T-7 trainers used by the JASDF, thus bringing to an end a long line of aircraft designs based on the iconic Beechcraft T-34 Mentor.
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