{"id":45798,"date":"2018-08-28T22:19:59","date_gmt":"2018-08-28T22:19:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/28\/when-you-should-expect-the-air-force-to-announce-its-next-trainer-aircraft\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:26:59","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:26:59","slug":"when-you-should-expect-the-air-force-to-announce-its-next-trainer-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/08\/28\/when-you-should-expect-the-air-force-to-announce-its-next-trainer-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"When you should expect the Air Force to announce its next trainer aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2013 With the U.S. Air Force having received final bids from industry, the service is now poised to award a contract for its 350-plane next-generation trainer fleet<\/a> in just a few weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Air Force official, speaking on background, said the service expects to award the contract by the end of the fiscal year \u2014 in other words, before Sept. 30. Many have speculated that the days before the Air Force Association\u2019s annual conference, being held Sept. 17-19 outside of Washington, would be a potential time for an announcement to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a source with knowledge of the situation said the current plan is to make the announcement after AFA concludes, likely the week of Sept. 24. If true, it could create an awkward environment at the event, where senior leaders will have to duck commenting on the soon-to-come T-X winner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three industry teams have submitted bids for the T-X competition, with an estimated price tag of $16 billion over the life of the program. Boeing and Swedish aerospace firm Saab have developed a new, clean-sheet design<\/a>; Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries are offering the T-50A<\/a>, a take on KAI\u2019s T-50 jet trainer; and Leonardo DRS is offering the T-100<\/a>, a modified version of the Italian aerospace company\u2019s M-346.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contract represents more than just 350 jets, although that alone would make it one of the biggest U.S. Air Force programs in years. Whichever contractor captures the USAF market may have the inside track on a number of future trainer competitions<\/a> around the globe, particularly among countries looking to buy the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. In addition, if the U.S. Air Force decides to purchase aggressor aircraft for live-flying training, something that has been discussed on and off in recent years<\/a>, simply buying more T-X trainers would be a logical solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\t