Japan has selected the T-6 Texan II to meet a JASDF requirement for a new primary trainer aircraft. (Textron Aviation Defense)
Japan's Ministry of Defense (MoD) has selected the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II turboprop aircraft as the Japan Air Self-Defense Force's (JASDF's) next-generation basic trainer platform.
An MoD notice issued on 29 November said the T-6 was selected for the JASDF requirement ahead of three other bidders. It said the T-6 was proposed by Kanematsu Corporation, the Japanese partner of the aircraft's manufacturer, Textron Aviation Defense.
The scope of the requirement was not disclosed by the MoD. The MoD's 2025 budget proposal, released in late August 2024, identified the JASDF's programme to acquire new primary trainer aircraft and associated ground training equipment as a “major project”. It added, “[These aircraft] will be used to train pilots of advanced fighter aircraft.”
The MoD notice said other Japanese companies to have proposed aircraft bids for the programme included Subaru (formerly Fuji Heavy Industries) and Daihyaku Shoji.
Subaru offered the Pilatus PC-7 MKX with training equipment, while Daihyaku Shoji proposed Turkish Aerospace's HĂĽrkus platform with training equipment. In addition, Japanese company Shintoa Trading proposed a bid centred on the provision of ground training equipment only.
The MoD said Kanematsu's T-6 proposal was selected for the programme after it scored highest in a two-stage bidding evaluation process. The request for proposal (RFP) for the programme was issued by the MoD in August and bids were opened in mid-October.
The MoD did not confirm what T-6 model has been selected but it is likely the T-6C, which is the export equivalent of the T-6B.
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