The T-6 Texan II, reportedly in a customized T-6JP variant, will be used by the JASDF as its new primary trainer to replace the license-built T-34 derivatives employed so far.
Japan has selected the U.S.-made T-6 Texan II as the next primary flight training aircraft for the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) late in November 2024. The tandem-seating, single-engine propeller aircraft will replace the older Fuji T-7.
The other contenders for the replacement were the Pilatus PC-7 MKX and the Turkish Hürkuş. While it has not been reported which model of T-6 has been chosen, it is likely to be the T-6C, an export variant of the T-6B built by Beechcraft, now part of Textron Aviation and Defense. According to Shepard Media, the T-6C would be modified according to Japanese requirements and called T-6JP.
The Japanese military so far operated older training aircraft like the T-7, T-5, T-6 and T-3, some of which were derived from the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor. Over the past few decades, the JASDF employed these license-built T-34 derivatives as its primary trainers. By incorporating various improvements and modifications, the Fuji T-3 was adopted to replace the original Beechcraft T-34 Mentors in 1978.
The T-7 then replaced the T-3 for the JASDF’s basic pilot training beginning in 2002. The service has 49 examples of the T-7 in operation, operated by the 11th and 12th Training Wings (Hiko Kyoikudan) based at Shizuhama Air Base and Hofu-Kita Air Base, respectively.
飛行機小話。
T-7の後継機がT-6に決定して頭混乱する人も居ると思いますが、T-7の前任がT-3なのも中々です。
途中の4と5は現役だけど6はどうしたって話です。そんなT-6は自衛隊創設期の練習機として存在していましたが、T-7採用の頃にはとっくに引退済みでした。 pic.twitter.com/e0OCUIwpSb
— からあげ重工㌠ (@ITEM87177) December 3, 2024
T-6C Texan II
The T-6, a derivative of the Pilatus PC-9, is one of the most used trainers and has accumulated over 5 million flight hours. The aircraft has been widely adopted by many countries around the world, including the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. On Nov. 25, the firm also announced delivering the first five of 12 Beechcraft T-6C Texan IIs to the Vietnam Air Defense Air Force.
NEWS: Textron Aviation has delivered the first five of 12 @Beechcraft T-6C Texan II aircraft to the Vietnam Air Defense Air Force.
Learn more at https://t.co/SX0NuPwcXl.#FlyBeechcraft #beechcraft #aviation pic.twitter.com/jThPLhPdAq
— Textron Aviation Defense (@TxtAvDefense) November 25, 2024
According to Textron Aviation, the T-6C Texan II training system also comprises a Desktop Avionics Trainer that digitally reproduces the avionics, controls and displays on three multifunction displays; Egress Procedures Trainer that replicates the forward cockpit, ejection seat, canopy; Ejection Seat Trainer which is a realistic replica of the Martin-Baker MKUS16LA ejection seat; and an Operational Flight Trainer (OFT) simulator.
The OFT simulator replicates the cockpit layout and aircraft performance with a domed 270 degrees by 70 degrees wide-field-of-view system. A single axis dynamic seat provides tactical simulation of flight movements and sensations.
New trainer procurement program
The Japan MoD’s draft budget for 2025, released in late Aug. 2024, had noted the JASDF’s effort to acquire new primary training aircraft and ground training equipment. The Texan II has been backed by the Kanematsu Corporation, while the Hürkuş was supported by the Hundred Trading Corp and the PC-7MKX by Subaru, according to Scramble. These Japanese companies were the U.S., Turkish and Swiss firms’ local partners, respectively.
As per European Security and Defense the procurement of the T-6 Texan II is scheduled to commence from 2025 onwards, with 36 expected to reach the JASDF by FY2030. The unit cost of the T-6s is estimated at Yen 1.21 billion ($7.97 million), with the total expected cost including ground systems, including six simulators, being Yen 133.65 billion ($8.6 billion). All the aircraft will be directly imported from the manufacturer and will not be manufactured and assembled locally within Japan.
The report added that Japan MoD’s selection process involved two stages, primarily focusing on the technical parameters and support equipment offered by the contenders, and whether it was commensurate with the price tag they quoted. During the first stage of evaluation, the MoD assessed whether the contenders – including aircraft, ground training systems and logistics support – met mandatory requirements.
次期初等練習機がT-6 テキサンIIに決定したとのこと。
細身でかっこいいので楽しみです。
英軍みたいなイケてる塗装になるといいなぁ…w pic.twitter.com/uN5DUukkdQ
— エイブラムズ⊿³ (@IT_is_ABRAMS) November 29, 2024
While the T-6C and PC-7MKX, along with their ground training systems, were judged as meeting the JASDF’s requirements, the Hürkuş was not. The next stage involved employing a “calculation formula” that divided their scores by certain evaluated costs, where the T-6C Texan qualified and was chosen as the JASDF’s next primary trainer.
Following a briefing session for the Request for Proposals (RFP) with the interested companies in February 2024, the MoD formally released the tender in August and stipulated a deadline of October 15 to submit their proposals. The selection process concluded by late November, meaning that the selection period was just a month and a half. Flight trials under various conditions by both the manufacturer’s and the user’s (JASDF) pilots were not held.
