Military

Air Force releases formal RFP for T-X Program to replace the T-38

On December 30 the Air Force formally opened the bidding process for the T-X program to replace the T-38 Talon jet trainer. Announcing they were accepting bids is a major step in the $16 billion dollar program that is expected to be awarded in 2017.

The new aircraft training system will prepare Air Force student pilots to fly 4th and 5th generation fighter jets. Initially purchasing about 350 aircraft the Air Force plans to have the jet trainer fully operational no later than 2024.

This comes after extensive dialogue with industry as part of our Cost Capability Analysis,” said Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. “T-X is one of our beta cases for CCA which is one of our many BTCC initiatives. Our dialogues have clarified RFP requirements and saved tens of millions of dollars in development cost and risk while still ensuring we acquire capability needed to train our next generation of pilots.”

You've reached your daily free article limit.

Subscribe and support our veteran writing staff to continue reading.

Get Full Ad-Free Access For Just $0.50/Week

Enjoy unlimited digital access to our Military Culture, Defense, and Foreign Policy coverage content and support a veteran owned business. Already a subscriber?

On December 30 the Air Force formally opened the bidding process for the T-X program to replace the T-38 Talon jet trainer. Announcing they were accepting bids is a major step in the $16 billion dollar program that is expected to be awarded in 2017.

The new aircraft training system will prepare Air Force student pilots to fly 4th and 5th generation fighter jets. Initially purchasing about 350 aircraft the Air Force plans to have the jet trainer fully operational no later than 2024.

This comes after extensive dialogue with industry as part of our Cost Capability Analysis,” said Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James. “T-X is one of our beta cases for CCA which is one of our many BTCC initiatives. Our dialogues have clarified RFP requirements and saved tens of millions of dollars in development cost and risk while still ensuring we acquire capability needed to train our next generation of pilots.”

“In terms of both providing realistic, holistic training and reducing flying hours on our fifth-generation platforms, T-X is a program we’ve got to get right,” Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein said in the statement.

“Our ability to get the most out of our fifth-generation aircraft depends on success in the Advanced Pilot Training program” also known as the T-X program, Goldfein said. – US Air Force news release

Second Lt. Duston Obrien, 435th Fighter Training Squadron upgrade pilot, and Maj. Gavin Peterson, 435th FTS instructor pilot, prepare to take off in a T-38 Talon at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. Photo by U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Stormy Archer

The T-X Request for Proposal (RFP) includes all aspects of the complete training system including delivery of the first five test aircraft.

Featured Image of Boeing’s Entry in the T-X Trainer Competition Courtesy of Boeing

This article is courtesy of Fighter Sweep.

About SOFREP News Team View All Posts

The SOFREP News Team is a collective of professional military journalists. Brandon Tyler Webb is the SOFREP News Team's Editor-in-Chief. Guy D. McCardle is the SOFREP News Team's Managing Editor. Brandon and Guy both manage the SOFREP News Team.

COMMENTS

You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.

More from SOFREP

REAL EXPERTS.
REAL NEWS.

Join SOFREP for insider access and analysis.

TRY 14 DAYS FREE

Already a subscriber? Log In