Boeing has unveiled its contender for the US Air Force’s T-X trainer program in a ceremony at St Louis on Tuesday.
Features of the aircraft, designed in partnership with Sweden’s Saab, include a single GE F404 engine, twin tails, what Boeing calls “stadium seating” and advanced avionics.
The first aircraft has already been undergoing ground testing and should fly before the end of the year, while a second T-X is in the advanced stages of assembly, Boeing revealed.
TWO! Second aircraft for #USAF ready for testing. #NewBoeingTX pic.twitter.com/GRorcvyGPU
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) September 13, 2016
Boeing and Saab are one of four teamings competing for T-X, as well as Lockheed Martin with Korean Aerospace, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems, and Raytheon and Leonardo.
T-X initial operating capability is planned for 2024, with the USAF planning to acquire 350 T-X aircraft to replace its ageing Northrop T-38 Talon trainers. A final RFT is due for release by the end of this year, with selection of the winning design planned for 2017.
The T-X program may also have longer-term relevance for Australia. Included in the 2016 Defence White Paper’s Integrated Investment Program (IIP) document is a new $5 billion project to replace the RAAF’s Hawk lead-in fighter trainers.
The IIP details a requirement for “a new lead-in fighter training system to support those students who go on to complete the ADF’s fast jet pilot training.”
The IIP lists a timeframe of 2022-2033 and a budget of $4-5 billion.
Ben
says:What a nifty looking jet.
Craigy
says:The aeroplane resembles the F104 forward of the intakes
Hayden Roberts
says:i’m going for Boeing/Saab all the way! all the others are based on preexisting aircraft.
That Ron guy
says:If you google image-search the 2-seat Saab Gripen, you can see a fair bit of commonality, notably with the air intakes & forward fuselage. The landing gear looks like it’s straight off the F-16, & the rear end was borrowed from the F-35A. All in all, it looks sexy with the bright lights shining on it but from other photos it does look a little clunky compared to the lightweight T-38’s it’s replacing. And Boeing does have a bit of a history with clunky planes. Anyone remember the X-32?
Hayden Roberts
says:that was a flop!
Dan
says:Is the scorpion in the mix?
Jason
says:Really, you’re all judging the aircraft based on its looks? A bit superficial don’t you think?
Why not consider the high installed thrust, the ‘stadium seating’ cockpit layout, the large control surfaces, modern production efficiencies, and growth potential…the things that actually matter to the USAF? Northrop Grumman will no doubt have similar advantages with its clean sheet (Scaled Composites) design, whereas Lockheed Martin and Raytheon have to adapt existing 10+ year old designs to a demanding requirement.
Would be great to see an article in AA soon on the relative merits of the contenders now that they’re all out in the open, especially as there will possibly be an Australian angle to this in a decade or so.
Harry
says:Jason, I agree.
But the Northrop Gruman aircraft hasn’t been revealed yet. I can presume that we will be highly influenced by which other countries, especially the US, purchase which aircraft.. The aircraft seems good but it will eventually come down to cost… all three contenders’ aircraft, that have unveiled their aircraft, look pretty good so far.
Bill
says:There are pictures of the Northrop aircraft getting around, it looks like a T-38/F-5 with a new fuselage. The wings, tail and undercarriage appear to be carried over from the previous aircraft.
The Boeing/SAAB machine appears to be based on a SAAB concept design from a while ago, but with twin tail fins amongst other changes.
Hayden Roberts
says:northrop is updating the goshawk
Hayden Roberts
says:jason, I also agree
does anyone know how the X-32 preformed?
paul
says:Does it have AB?
Fabian
says:Lockheeds martins jet looks pretty good. But this Jet is a sexy looking thing