US Air Force, industry prepare for T-38 replacement

Flight Global ^ | 6/22/2010 | Stephen Trimble

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The US Air Force may be within months of launching a contest to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon trainer that was introduced in 1962.

At least five companies are plotting potential bids to win the contract to replace 450 T-38s and become the go-to trainer option worldwide for Lockheed Martin's fifth-generation fighters - the F-22 and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

With fewer new contract opportunities available over the next decade, the T-X programme is shaping up as a must-win battle. In terms of quantity, the deal represents the single largest new contract opportunity for manned aircraft in the US defence market for several years.

By 2012, the USAF may select a contractor to build at least 350 aircraft to replace the T-38 alone. But follow-on opportunities, including naval and light attack versions, could push sales to nearly 1,000 aircraft for the Department of Defense.

The South Korean-built T-50 is not alone. Both the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master and BAE Systems Hawk 128 have attracted other buyers, but replacing the USAF's T-38 fleet remains the prime goal for both companies.

With KAI tightly aligned with Lockheed, Alenia Aermacchi and BAE may need to find US partners.

Starting in June 2009, Alenia executives spoke openly of plans to offer the M-346 to the USAF as a prime contractor, perhaps using newly acquired DRS Technologies to install sensitive equipment. But the company has changed course since April, when Finmecannica chief executive Pier Francesco Guarguaglini told market analysts that it would seek a US partner.

Meanwhile, BAE's plan is still to offer the Hawk for the T-X contract through its US-based subsidiary BAE Systems Inc.

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

Ping

[Lmo56]

Sweet plane - easy to fly ...

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

We already have a fine replacement in inventory. The Navy is suing it.

The T-45

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

suing = using...

[raygun]

Request to manual uniform channel.

[chemicalman]

I was stationed at Sheppard AFB for tech school and our classroom was right along the runway where they took off in the early morning.
Sweet watching them take off in the morning eating breakfast with the afterburners glowing.

[spetznaz]

The T-45 Goshawk shown in your picture is actually a version of the BAE Hawk . In the same way whatever wins will be called the T-something. This is why I think the Hawk has a good chance of winning. Here is a picture of the BAE Hawk, from which the T-45 came from:

My favourite has to be the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master, which is similar to the EADS Mako advanced trainer (which is stealthy to a slight extent).

First picture is the MAKO, second picture is the M-346 being refueled by a Tornado:

[spetznaz]

Mako:

[Retired Intelligence Officer]

Looks like a mini Skyhawk.

[texas sword]

They just got done with the T-38C mod.