With Latest CJ Nods, Textron Bridges Generational Gap

Textron Aviation has received its next round of FAA approvals for its “Gen" series of aircraft—the Cessna Citation CJ3 Gen2 and M2 Gen2 with Garmin autothrottles—the company said Monday at NBAA-BACE 2025. These are a part of an ambitious schedule of Gen upgrades that the Wichita manufacturer has undertaken for its M2/CJ series, with Gen3 versions on pace to follow shortly after the latest round of Gen2 approvals.

Following 445 flight test hours, the CJ3 approval brings “the most comprehensive Citation Gen2 investment to market,” Textron Aviation said, adding that the aircraft is expected to enter service this year.

The Gen2 upgrade features autothrottles integrated in the Garmin 3000 software suite, an additional 4.5 inches of pilot legroom, and a fully customizable cabin. Along with the autothrottles, Textron Aviation is offering an optional enhanced vision system to improve situational awareness.

With a touchscreen interface, the Gen2 incorporates a GDL60 datalink for aircraft connectivity, providing for remote transmission of flight plans, automatic database updates, and wireless transmission of aircraft diagnostic data.

As for the eight- to nine-passenger interior, customers can tailor the cabin for their missions, including seats with tracking capability on the base and floor and optional swivel functionality. Features include RGB accent lighting for further customization and USB-C power at every seat, along with wireless charging.

Textron Aviation is offering an optional high-power outlet for a coffee machine, ice and trash storage, and the incorporation of a cabin master control switch panel. Another new feature is CoolView skylights in the lavatory and an optional sink and vanity design with a dedicated water supply. The CJ3 Gen2 includes an externally serviceable lavatory, a new feature for the model.

Powered by Williams FJ44-3A turbofan engines, the aircraft has a maximum range of 2,040 nm and a useful payload of 5,530 pounds.

Also equipped with Garmin G3000 avionics, the latest M2 Gen2 approval brings autothrottles to Textron Aviation’s smallest jet, enabling greater control and precision for pilots, optimizing power of the Williams FJ44-1AP-21 turbofans, simplifying flight management, and increasing overall operating efficiency. Garmin’s autothrottles include features to prevent exceedance conditions and alert pilots if any deviations occur.

Certification was the culmination of nearly 300 flight-test hours and numerous certification tests on the M2 Gen2. “Achieving FAA certification for the Citation M2 Gen2 with Garmin Autothrottles reinforces our commitment to bringing innovation and industry-leading technology to our customers,” said Chris Hearne, senior v-p of engineering and programs. “Textron Aviation leads the industry in bringing clean-sheet aircraft and product upgrades to market—certifying nine business jets since 2013.”

When enabled at 400 feet above ground, the autothrottles manage aircraft speed, engine performance, and power, enabling the aircraft to climb, descend, or maintain altitude. This will provide for smoother and more predictable flight profiles, Textron Aviation added.

Certified in April 2022, the M2 Gen2 is equipped with upgraded interior styling, ambient accent lighting, illuminated cupholders, and an optional folding side-facing seat that converts into additional cargo storage. In addition, the seven-passenger cabin incorporates wireless charging capabilities and USB-A and -C ports at each cabin seat. Textron Aviation added 3 inches of legroom to the copilot position in the cockpit.

Designed for single-pilot operations, the 404-knot light jet has a maximum range of 1,550 nm, can operate with runways as short as 3,210 feet, and reach an altitude of 41,000 feet in 24 minutes.

In addition to the CJ3 and M2 Gen2 variants, Textron Aviation had certified the CJ4 Gen2 in 2021. But work is continuing on the next iterations of these models, with Gen3 versions announced during NBAA-BACE in 2024. The CJ4 Gen3 will feature Garmin’s new G3000 Prime touchscreen avionics suite and other refinements, and the M2 Gen3 and CJ3 Gen3 will have Garmin Autoland. Certification for the CJ4 Gen3  is anticipated next year with the Gen3 editions of the M2 and CJ3 following in 2027.

Briefing reporters on the updates ahead of NBAA-BACE, Cessna senior v-p of sales and marketing Lannie O’Bannion stressed that many of these upgrades reflect many of the requests of the customer advisory board. He cited as an example owner operators seeking more legroom in the cockpit of the CJ3 so now it has 4.5 more inches, “which makes that experience while flying the aircraft much better.”

Noting Textron Aviation is launching the G3000 Prime on the CJ4, he said that unveiling “really stole the show last year.”  

Textron Aviation brought the CJ3 Gen2 to NBAA-BACE, along with the CJ4 Gen2 cabin mockup, Citation Latitude, Citation Longitude, and the debut of the Citation Ascend.