T-X Trainer Contract: Big Prize In Crowded Global Market

Leonardo M-346

A T-X contender, as the Raytheon-led T-100, Leonardo’s M-346 Master is in production, and 68 have been ordered by Israel, Italy, Poland, and Singapore. An armed “fighter trainer” version, the M-346FT, is in development. 

Engines: Two 6,280-lb.-thrust Honeywell F124s
Weight: 21,165 lb.
Speed: 590 kt.

Korea Aerospace Industries T-50

Another T-X contender—as the Lockheed Martin T-50A—KAI’s supersonic trainer is in production and, including the armed FA-50, 140 have been ordered by Indonesia, Iraq, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand. 

Engine: One 17,700-lb.-thrust GE F404-400 
Weight: 27,300 lb. 
Speed: Mach 1.5.

Aero Vodochody L-39NG

Some 700 L-39s remain in service and, having flown a demonstrator in 2015, Aero plans to fly an L-39NG prototype in 2017 with new avionics, engine and lighter airframe. The aircraft is to be available by the end of 2018.

Engine: One 3,790-lb.-thrust Williams FJ44-4M
Weight: 13,230 lb.
Speed: 420 kt.

BAE Systems Hawk AJT

With more than 1,000 sold, the Hawk continues in production in the UK and India. BAE has sold 80 AJTs (Advanced Jet Trainer) to the Oman, Saudi Arabia and UK, and is working with HAL on a combat version for India. 

Engine: One 6,500-lb.-thrust Rolls-Royce Adour 951 
Weight: 20,062 lb. 
Speed: 560 kt.

Textron AirLand Scorpion

A limited production run of private-venture Scorpion trainer/light-attack aircraft has begun ahead of securing a launch customer or flying the production-representative prototype—the latter was expected by the end of 2016. 

Engines: Two 4,000-lb.-thrust Honeywell TFE731s
Weight: 21,250 lb. 
Speed: 450 kt.

Beechcraft AT-6

With 57 T-6C Texans sold to four export customers, Textron Aviation is still seeking a launch customer for the light armed reconnaissance AT-6 Wolverine.

Embraer A-29

Among the 15 customers for the Super Tucano are Afghanistan, receiving 20 A-29s from the U.S., and Lebanon, with nine U.S.-assembled A-29s on order.

KAI KT-1C

Four export customers have purchased 93 basic-trainer KT-1s and light-attack KA-1s, South Korea’s first completely indigenously developed aircraft.

Leonardo M-345

An Italian air force launch order for the M-345, and first flight of the Williams FJ44-4M-powered basic jet trainer, were expected by the end of 2016.

Pilatus PC-21

Six customers have ordered 180 PC-21s, with the first of 49 for Australia’s Lockheed Martin-led training program to be delivered in June 2017.

TAI Hurkus

The indigenous Hurkus-A basic trainer was certified in 2016, and the glass-cockpit Hurkus-B is planned for delivery to the Turkish air force in 2017.