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2016-10-06
All You Need To Know About The USAF’s T-X Contest
With the United States Air Force’s T-X trainer competition heating up, Nation Shield brings its readers a brief view of all four proposed aircraft.
After years of waiting, the United States Air Force is moving ahead with the US Air Force’s Advanced Pilot Training competition, known as the T-X program, to build an advanced end-to-end jet fighter training system worthy enough to train their men.
The T-X program has been established to enable the US Air Force to buy a new two-seat jet trainer for fast-jet training to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon. As of 2016, the T-38 has been in service for over 50 years with its original operator, the United States Air Force.
About 350 aircraft are expected to be ordered to replace the T-38, but further purchases could push the overall purchase to over 1,000
Four teams have come forward to compete for the potentially rewarding contract, including:
Raytheon and its partner Alenia Aermacchi, offering the T-100, which is based on the Italian manufacturer’s M-346.
Lockheed Martin / Korea Aerospace Industries team, proposing its T-50. Rivals Boeing-Saab.
Northrop Grumman/BAE Systems, countering with so-called clean-sheet designs, aircraft they will build from the ground up based on Air Force specifications.
Boeing / SAAB team
Boeing and its partner Saab AB will use their two production T-X aircraft, revealed recently, to show the US Air Force the performance, affordability, and maintainability advantages of their approach.
Boeing signed a joint development agreement with Saab in December 2013, to compete for T-X with an all-new, purpose-built design, having revealed its first production aircraft, the cornerstone of the complete Boeing T-X advanced pilot training system, in St. Louis September 13, 2016.
T-X will replace the Air Force’s aging T-38 aircraft. Initial operating capability is planned for 2024.
Boeing T-X is an all-new advanced pilot training system designed specifically for US Air Force training mission. It includes trainer aircraft, ground-based training and support –designed together from the ground up.
The Boeing T-X aircraft has one engine, twin tails, stadium seating and an advanced cockpit with embedded training. It is the cornerstone of the complete advanced pilot training system, which also includes state-of-the-art ground-based training and a maintenance friendly design for long-term supportability. The clean-sheet approach allows use of the latest technology, tools and manufacturing techniques – creating a more affordable and flexible option than older, existing aircraft. The system is also designed to evolve as technology, missions and training needs change.
It has twin tails, GE F404 engine, and high G and high angle-of-attack capability. Boeing T-X is designed to look, feel and perform like fighter aircraft. The twin-tail design offers improved stability and is visually similar to current and future fighters, to enhance training. Twin tails provide excellent control, inherent speed break functionality, and safer air refueling.
It boasts a modern fighter-like cockpit, flexible avionics and a reconfigurable large area display allow students and instructors a maximum range of training options.
Boeing T-X is a complete advanced pilot training solution providing real-as-it-gets simulation, interactive classroom lessons, computer-based training modules, adaptive training that adjusts to students’ needs, and a complete suite of instructor tools – for optimum results on the ground and in the ‘classroom in the sky.’
The system also offers state-of-the-art ground-based training and a maintenance-friendly design for long-term supportability.
Lockheed Martin/KAI T-50A Golden Eagle
As the leader in 5th Generation development, Lockheed Martin, in partnership with Korea Aerospace Industries, brings the experience and leadership to support the next generation of pilots, by offering its T-50A jet trainer.
In preparation for the forthcoming contest, the first of two T-50A prototypes made its first flight on June 2, 2016, in Sacheon, South Korea.
The T-50A delivers the fighter-like performance and capabilities needed to eliminate 5th Generation training gaps and inefficiencies. The T-50A builds on the proven heritage of the T-50. There are more than 150 T-50s flying today—100,000+ flight hours and counting—and the airframe has already trained more than 1,800 pilots.
The T-50A is easy to fly—similar to the F-16, F-22, and F-35—which helps avoid negative training and unnecessary sorties. The T-50A creates better pilots, in less time, for less cost by enabling student pilots to focus their airmanship skills on improved aero performance, digital flight controls/fly-by-wire, with NextGen air traffic management systems, while operating from an anthropometrically designed 5th Generation cockpit.
The T-50A aircraft configuration is based on South Korea’s FA-50, which is currently in production. The FA-50, the most advanced version of the T-50, incorporates air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, along with an avionics suite that contains an electronic warfare suite, a multi-mode radar and an advanced data-link.
T-50A has immersive, synchronized ground-based training systems that maximize training effectiveness and reduce costs. The training system is focused on training the next generation of pilots to command next-generation aircraft.
The T-50A team offers worldwide logistics support of its products. Support includes logistics planning, site surveys, base- and depot-level repair shops, spares provisioning and replenishment, support equipment, electronic technical manuals and portable maintenance readers.
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman, along with partners BAE Systems, L-3, and Rolls-Royce, initially had intentions of proposing an updated version of the Hawk T2/128 for the T-X program. Northrop Grumman assumed prime responsibilities for the team in 2014.
For over 50 years, T-38 Talon has served USAF as the lead-in trainer for third, fourth and fifth generation aircraft. Now, with partners BAE Systems and L-3, Northrop Grumman is reaching new heights.
Winning T-X is a matter of pride for the company, which built the current Air Force T-38 Talon, the world’s first supersonic trainer.
When the new trainer program first emerged in 2011, the Air Force insisted it wanted to buy an existing design from the open market to save time and money. However, it later concluded that off-the-shelf airplanes might not meet stringent performance requirements in order to train fifth-generation fighter pilots — like sustained G-capability and tight angles of attack. Northrop Grumman initially had teamed with BAE Systems to offer the Hawk trainer, but when it became clear that the Air Force was moving in a different direction, the company turned to its aircraft concept designers for fresh ideas.
Northrop Grumman has used advanced design and prototyping techniques to build a purpose-built aircraft for the competition. The aircraft combines Northrop Grumman and Scaled Composites innovative approach to aircraft design, development and rapid prototyping.
Combining the purpose-built aircraft with BAE Systems’ embedded training capability and an L-3 ground based training system, Northrop Grumman have created an integrated training solution designed specifically to US Air Force requirements to provide trusted and affordable combat pilot training.
BAE Systems and L-3 were selected to join the Northrop T-X team for their expertise in advanced simulators, which are a considerable portion of the program. Estimated at more than a billion dollars, T-X would replace 350 T-38 trainers
Raytheon/Leonardo T-100
Raytheon, Leonardo, Honeywell Aerospace, and CAE USA Inc. have teamed to provide an affordable, mature and comprehensive next-generation solution for the competition.
Nearly 45,000 pilots and crew members have earned their wings on the training systems designed, developed and fielded by the Raytheon-led team. Raytheon was the original manufacturer of the T-1 Jayhawk and the T-6 Texan II, both of which are used by USAF to train pilots and combat systems operators.
Leonardo and its legacy companies have produced numerous trainers, including the MB-326 and the MB-339. Bringing together the companies’ unmatched training heritage – from aircraft production to systems integration to ground based simulation – will result in an unparalleled training solution.
Operational and in-use today by some of the world’s most advanced air forces, the T-100 Integrated Air Training System is a fully integrated flying and ground based training system that leverages downloading training missions from frontline fighters, embedded training, and the economies of scale to deliver a low-cost, low-risk training system.
The T-100 is an advanced variant of the M-346 and is currently operated by Israel, Italy, Singapore, and Poland. Raytheon’s comprehensive solution includes:
* A next-generation, twin engine air craft with advanced cockpit and avionics emulators
* Classroom instruction
* Ground based training and simulation powered by training industry leader CAE USA Inc.
* Aircrew and logistics training
* System management
* Integrated logistics support
Powered by two Honeywell Aerospace F124 engines, the T-100 will feature a modern Heads-Up Display, a customizable Large-Area Display and a fully integrated Helmet Mounted-Display designed to prepare pilots for the advanced avionics they use in frontline tactical aircraft.
Conclusion
The Air Force intends to buy 350 of the trainers, which are needed to replace the aging T-38. A draft request for proposals went out to industry in late July, with the final RFP expected in December.
The notional in-service date for the replacement trainer was 2017, but shrinking budgets have pushed initial operating capability to around 2023. The program is expected to begin in FY 2017.
Reference text/photo:www.wikipedia.org , www.lmco.com ,www.boeing.com,www.northropgrumman.com,www.raytheon.com,www.saabgroup.com,www.nationaldefensemagazine.org
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