Navy Seeks $10B Trainer Replacement Amid Shift Away from Carrier Landings
The U.S. Navy is seeking to replace its aging Boeing T-45C Goshawk jet trainers, with four companies competing for a contract worth over $10 billion. The Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program aims to provide 216 new trainers by 2032, with the winner of the competition expected to be announced in March 2027.
The T-45C Goshawk has been the Navy's primary trainer since 1991, but it is plagued by engine and oxygen system problems. The new trainers will not require the ability to perform carrier touch-and-go landings, a significant shift from previous requirements. Instead, pilots will learn carrier procedures through advanced simulation before transitioning to frontline aircraft at Fleet Replacement Squadrons.
The competition includes Boeing's T-7B Red Hawk, Lockheed Martin/KAI's TF-50N, Leonardo/Textron's M-346N, and Sierra Nevada Corporation's Freedom. Each contender brings unique features to the table, with Boeing projecting an operating cost of $7,200 per flight hour, a significant reduction from the T-45C's $10,700.