Textron Aviation Defense has unveiled the Beechcraft M-346N it intends to bid for the U.S. Navy Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program. On Monday, the Wichita-based manufacturer confirmed that, with its European partner Leonardo (manufacturer of the M-346 light jet), it is engaging with U.S. Navy requests for information as it prepares for an anticipated request for proposal.
Boeing and Lockheed Martin are also expected to compete for the contest to replace the current T-45 Goshawks. Lockheed Martin is teamed with Korean Aerospace Industries to pitch the T-50A jet, while Boeing will offer its T-7A Red Hawk.
The Beechcraft M-346N tandem-seat trainer is powered by a pair of Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofans that Textron said will support cruise speeds of more than 590 knots and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. The jet has fly-by-wire controls with quadruple redundancy, and a flight deck equipped with head-up and large-area displays for each of the two pilots, plus hands-on throttle and stick controls and an automatic ground collision avoidance system.
According to Textron, the aircraft will use the Embedded Training System developed with Leonardo, providing training ranging from basic to advanced levels with emulating sensors, weapons, and computer-generated forces. The package to be offered for the U.S. Navy bid will combine Live-Virtual-Constructive architecture that connects live flight experiences in the aircraft with ground-based virtual-reality simulators and computer-generated friendly and adversary forces.
Italy-based Leonardo has already delivered more than 100 M-346 aircraft to support pilot training for fourth- and fifth-generation air forces worldwide.