The Air Force has postponed its potential $30 billion T-X trainer jet competition due to higher priorities and budget constraints, according to a service spokesman.
A request for proposals (RFP) for the program, which could eventually replace the Air Force’s aging T-38 trainer jets and related training systems, was originally anticipated for fourth quarter 2013 or first quarter 2014. Air Force spokesman Ed Gulick said recently since the program was deferred in President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2014 budget proposal, the service is unable to set an new RFP release date.
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| BAE Systems’ Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer System. Photo: BAE Systems. |
The Air Force originally had a goal of 2017 to get T-X trainers in its fleet (Defense Daily, March 9, 2012). Gulick said the previous goals represented a “compressed, high-risk” schedule.
“The original schedule… driven by a FY ’20 initial operational capability (IOC), sought to capitalize on active production lines and projected a late FY ’12 approval of the milestone entry point,” Gulick said. “Due to funding uncertainty and the lack of a new objective IOC date, all working schedules now reflect uncompressed, medium-risk timelines projected forward from summer 2013. These factors account for the significant delays in program events.”
General Dynamics [GD] and Finmeccanica’s Alenia Aermacchi said in January it would team for the T-X contract, which assuming a 20-year program cycle, observers said had a potential value of more than $30 billion. The duo was to offer a fully-integrated advanced pilot training system built around Alenia’s T-100, a market variant of the company’s M-346 military aircraft trainer (Defense Daily, Jan. 18).
Northrop Grumman [NOC], BAE Systems and L-3 Communications [LLL] had partnered to offer the Hawk Advanced Jet Training System (AJTS) with BAE acting as prime contractor and L-3 providing the ground based training system. Northrop Grumman would have managed the building and final assembling of the aircraft. BAE spokesman Wayne Morse said yesterday the BAE-led team is committed to the T-X trainer program and will bid when a future RFP is released.
Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Korea Aerospace were to offer Lockheed Martin’s T-50.
Boeing [BA] had also said it was going to bid for T-X. Boeing spokeswoman Karen Fincutter said yesterday the company is evaluating the new requirements and will continue with its efforts to develop a new, purpose-built solution.
The T-38 is developed by Northrop Grumman.