Textron Aviation has officially decided that it cannot compete for the U.S. Air Force’s $16 billion next-generation training aircraft program with the company’s Scorpion.
The company strung everybody along for months with claims that its Textron AirLand and Beechcraft Defense businesses were still reviewing the detailed requirements contained in the T-X request for proposals issued in December. This week, the Wichita-based firm stated categorically that its Scorpion and AT-6 military aircraft are not viable candidates.
It is no surprise the twin-turbofan Scorpion does not measure up, since it was designed and marketed specifically for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and strike missions, not purpose-built to train America’s next cadre of fighter and bomber pilots.
The airframe, even the latest production-conforming configuration, could not achieve the minimum 6.5 g sustained maneuvering required for T-X. The Pilatus PC-9-based T-6 Texan II was developed by Raytheon and Beechcraft for basic flying skills training for Air Force and U.S. Navy pilots.
“Textron AirLand and Beechcraft Defense will not be bidding for the T-X program,” a company spokeswoman said in an email. “The T-X program is seeking a class of aircraft with a set of capabilities focused on a very different mission than that of the Scorpion or AT-6 Wolverine. [Textron] is pursuing numerous opportunities where the capabilities of the Scorpion and AT-6 align with the mission requirements of potential customers.”
Textron did not provide justification for why it—a leading flight training provider with formidable capabilities inherent in its TRU Simulation business—would sit out one of the most significant and potentially lucrative training programs of a generation.
This development is not nearly as shocking as Northrop Grumman’s withdrawal from the competition or the Raytheon/Leonardo breakup. But it does highlight decision-making by Textron to leave the high-performance military trainer business to others and focus instead on building economical lightweight strike aircraft for counterinsurgency and border protection missions.
The Air Force had been massaging its Northrop T-38 Talon replacement needs for almost a decade and publicly released its draft requirements in March 2015.
Textron has had plenty of time to position for T-X by partnering with another cashed-up partner to develop a clean-sheet prototype or modifying Scorpion. The company confirms to Aviation Week that it has not aligned itself with any other prime contractor and will completely sit out T-X.
The remaining contenders are the Boeing/Saab BTX, Lockheed Martin/Korea Aerospace Industries T-50A; Leonardo/DRS Technologies T-100, Sierra Nevada Corp/Turkish Aerospace Industries Freedom Trainer and perhaps, with some financial and technical backing, the Stavatti Javelin.
Despite missing out on T-X, Textron feels it is well positioned for “OA-X”—a prospective lightweight combat aircraft procurement by the Air Force. The company could pitch the Scorpion or Wolverine, likely going up against Embraer’s Super Tucano, Iomax’s Thrush S2R-660-based Archangel, or perhaps some other armed turboprop or light jet.
The service intends to conduct OA-X flight evaluations at Holloman AFB in New Mexico this summer. The aircraft would be employed for light strike and close air support missions against lightly armed terrorists or insurgents in regions not guarded by advanced air defenses. Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has recommended a fleet of 300 light attack aircraft for this role.
Textron says it is engaged with the Air Force as the requirements are being finalized. It intends to participate in any planned OA-X demonstrations, the firm says.
“Scorpion and Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine are exceptional platforms to fulfill the light-attack mission,” the company says. “We look forward to receiving additional information on the OA-X program and potentially demonstrating the capabilities of these aircraft as the Air Force determines which platform will best fit the OA-X mission requirements.”
Scorpion is optimized for irregular warfare and low operating costs. It has a maximum takeoff weight of 22,000 lb. and can carry up to 3,000 lb. internally as well as various assortments of precision-guided munitions on its wings.
AT-6 has a maximum takeoff weight of 10,000 lb. and can carry up to 4,100 lb. of ordnance. Scorpion flies at 450 kt., whereas the AT-6’s top speed is 316 kt.