Boeing-SAAB win USAF's T-X trainer competition
On September 27th, 2018 USAF announced Boeing-SAAB team has won the next generation trainer competition with their candidate design. The competition aims to replace the USAF's current T-38 trainers. It's a design that was made in late 1950s.
Boeing's announcement here
Originally, USAF projected the cost for the T-X program was to be $19.7 billion, for design and procurement of 351 planes. Through this competition, they've lowered the cost quite a bit.
Boeing's winning bid is just $9.2 billion. It would cover 351 planes, 46 simulators and associated equipment.
The initial stage of the contract is worth $813 million, which is to provide Boeing with funds to engineer and manufacture first five aircraft and seven simulators.
Boeing won against Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries bid, the T-50; as well as against Leonardo's T-100 (Based on their own M-346 trainer). Earlier, other competitors such as Northrop Grumman and Textron have dropped out of the competition.
USAF also may exercise the option to go for a total of 475 trainer planes and 120 simulators, though current plans call for a firm order of just said 351 planes. Initial operational capability is planned for 2024, when first few dozen planes would be declared operational within USAF. Full operational capability, which is yet undefined, is planned for 2034.
Besides USAF, another prospective customer may be Swedish Air Force. Previously, SAF said they planned to replace their ageing Sk60 jet trainers with turboprop ones. But if Boeing-SAAB entry wins T-X competition, that they might buy that plane instead.
Reason why Boeing teamed with SAAB in the first place is likely SAAB's experience with small-form planes, fairly cheap design/manufacturing as well as actual design experience with modern trainers. SAAB worked on its Eurohawk trainer concept in 1990s, which never flew, but
which might be sharing some of the design with the final T-X design. Boeing had no similar experience working on planes of such weight class and type.
Of course, with such a large customer such as USAF, influential company such as Boeing, and potentially 400+ planes made, it is likely other countries will buy the type as well.
There is even a prospect for a combat variant in the coming decade or so. If it materializes, it'd be the first NATO country made light/cheap combat plane, that'd actually be available to other NATO countries and their allies. After the ageing F-5, no plane of such class existed as an option for the poorer NATO countries or their allies. Koreans did make T-50, with Lockheed Martin's help, but its combat variant F-50, isn't really being offered to NATO countries/close allies. It is possible reason for that is LM's own reluctance to allow said plane in those competitions so it doesn't cannibalize the profits of their second-hand F-16 sales. Lockheed Martin is a co-funder of the whole KAI project and has veto powers over export sales of the type, outside South Korea.
Unlike many of the trainers today, the winning T-X (and competing T-50, which lost) are fairly suited to combat variants which could be useful. They're fairly large, roughly in the 6-7 tons class (empty weight). They both have afterburning engines (F414, 79 kN of thrust) and they have fairly large noses. Boeing-SAAB's T-X could certainly fit a small radar, if a requirement is there. Also, Boeing claims its design already supports addition of five hardpoints (two under each wing, one central) without structural changes.
Of course, that all depends on the market and costs of developing a combat variant. Single biggest variant of the type will definitely be the trainer. Unless LM files a protest which gets upheld and the whole competition is annulled.
Boeing's announcement here
 |
Boeing-SAAB prototypes in flight
|
Boeing's winning bid is just $9.2 billion. It would cover 351 planes, 46 simulators and associated equipment.
The initial stage of the contract is worth $813 million, which is to provide Boeing with funds to engineer and manufacture first five aircraft and seven simulators.
Boeing won against Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries bid, the T-50; as well as against Leonardo's T-100 (Based on their own M-346 trainer). Earlier, other competitors such as Northrop Grumman and Textron have dropped out of the competition.
USAF also may exercise the option to go for a total of 475 trainer planes and 120 simulators, though current plans call for a firm order of just said 351 planes. Initial operational capability is planned for 2024, when first few dozen planes would be declared operational within USAF. Full operational capability, which is yet undefined, is planned for 2034.
Besides USAF, another prospective customer may be Swedish Air Force. Previously, SAF said they planned to replace their ageing Sk60 jet trainers with turboprop ones. But if Boeing-SAAB entry wins T-X competition, that they might buy that plane instead.
Reason why Boeing teamed with SAAB in the first place is likely SAAB's experience with small-form planes, fairly cheap design/manufacturing as well as actual design experience with modern trainers. SAAB worked on its Eurohawk trainer concept in 1990s, which never flew, but
which might be sharing some of the design with the final T-X design. Boeing had no similar experience working on planes of such weight class and type.
 |
| SAAB's trainer jet concepts |
Of course, with such a large customer such as USAF, influential company such as Boeing, and potentially 400+ planes made, it is likely other countries will buy the type as well.
There is even a prospect for a combat variant in the coming decade or so. If it materializes, it'd be the first NATO country made light/cheap combat plane, that'd actually be available to other NATO countries and their allies. After the ageing F-5, no plane of such class existed as an option for the poorer NATO countries or their allies. Koreans did make T-50, with Lockheed Martin's help, but its combat variant F-50, isn't really being offered to NATO countries/close allies. It is possible reason for that is LM's own reluctance to allow said plane in those competitions so it doesn't cannibalize the profits of their second-hand F-16 sales. Lockheed Martin is a co-funder of the whole KAI project and has veto powers over export sales of the type, outside South Korea.
 |
LM's losing T-50 design
|
Unlike many of the trainers today, the winning T-X (and competing T-50, which lost) are fairly suited to combat variants which could be useful. They're fairly large, roughly in the 6-7 tons class (empty weight). They both have afterburning engines (F414, 79 kN of thrust) and they have fairly large noses. Boeing-SAAB's T-X could certainly fit a small radar, if a requirement is there. Also, Boeing claims its design already supports addition of five hardpoints (two under each wing, one central) without structural changes.
Of course, that all depends on the market and costs of developing a combat variant. Single biggest variant of the type will definitely be the trainer. Unless LM files a protest which gets upheld and the whole competition is annulled.
Comments
Post a Comment