More Texan II Trainers On The Way

Hawker Beechcraft said Thursday the company was recently awarded two follow-on contracts for an additional 137 T-6A Texan II military trainer aircraft by the United States Air Force. This $550 million contract extension is a continuation of the US Air Force and US Navy’s Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) program.

The contract was awarded by the Air Force Materiel Command, 664th AESS/PK, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. The agreement also includes program and manufacturing management, program support, field service representatives, diminishing material shortage management, field maintenance training and aircrew training devices.

"Hawker Beechcraft and its employees are proud to support the military’s training programs and operations," said HBC’s Jim Maslowski, vice president, Government Business. "The original JPATS contract with HBC was awarded in 1995, and since then we have delivered more than 380 T-6A aircraft to the United States Government, supporting their mission of training excellence. Hawker Beechcraft won the highly competitive JPATS program by offering the safest, most capable and most affordable trainer, and it is truly an honor to be an integral component of the training that helps military aviators protect our country and freedoms."

The T-6A Texan II is an integrated part of the Air Force training program that includes over 155 hours of flight training and weapons delivery training per pilot.

Overall, the JPATS program calls for the delivery of 768 aircraft and 105 aircrew training devices into early 2016. Logistic support plans for these aircraft extend beyond 2050. The US Air Force and US Navy have ordered 571 aircraft and 104 aircrew training devices to date, with a production contract value of more than $3.3 billion.

Hawker Beechcraft has delivered more than 387 aircraft and 83 aircrew training devices to various major training installations throughout the United States since its first deliveries started in 2000. In addition to the Air Force and Navy, the T-6A is currently in-service with the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program and the Hellenic Air Force of Greece as a primary, weapons and navigation trainer. HBC has delivered 26 T-6A aircraft to the NFTC and 45 T-6A aircraft to the Hellenic Air Force.

FMI: www.hawkerbeechcraft.com, www.af.mil, www.navy.mil