USAF releases draft T-X KPPs

[ORAC]

The DEW Line: USAF releases draft T-X KPPs (http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2012/10/usaf-releases-draft-t-x-kpps.html)

The US Air Force has released the draft Key Performance Parameters for the T-X jet trainer it hopes will eventually replace the Northrop T-38C Talon. From the specifications, the USAF is asking for a pretty robust set of capabilities. One of the requirements is that it should be able to take the place of the F-22 bridge course (Eight rides in a two-seat F-16, doing night aerial refueling and making sure the new guys can pull 9Gs while operating the radar and what not) before new pilots head to the Raptor B-course. Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, Alenia Aermacchi and Boeing are expected to bid.

Read the write up here (http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usaf-releases-draft-t-x-kpps-377693/), but below are the USAF's list of KPPs and Key System Attributes that it wants.

http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/assets_c/2012/10/T-XdraftKPPs-thumb-560x2671-166028.jpg

[Heathrow Harry]

where does it say

"must be designed & built by an American company?"

[LL of LL]

Like Harrier and Goshawk?

[ORAC]

Like Harrier and Goshawk?

McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_AV-8B_Harrier_II)

McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonnell_Douglas_T-45_Goshawk)

T'was ever thus.......

Martin B-57 Canberra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_B-57_Canberra)

[Heathrow Harry]

they were a long long time ago - just look at the tanker fiasco to see what will happen

[brickhistory]

must be designed & built by an American company?"


One, as an American taxpayer, does hope.

[Rosevidney1]

They used to say "Man proposes, God disposes" but now:

The nation needs but the bean counters decide (after pressure from certain senators).

So the sevice gets what someone else thinks they ought.

[GreenKnight121]

Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master
Italian aerospace company Alenia Aermacchi plans on bidding its M-346 Master (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M-346_Master) for the T-X program. The company had initially considered submitting the aircraft as the prime contractor, but changed its mind in 2010. It is now searching for a U.S. partner to bid with. The company also rebranded the aircraft as the T-100 Integrated Training System for the competition. Alenia anticipates moving the final assembly location from Italy to the United States if it wins the competition.
However, Boeing may be a desirable partner for Alenia Aermacchi, as they have an existing partnership with Alenia to market the M-346 internationally.





BAE Hawk
BAE Systems, along with Northrop Grumman, is proposing the updated Hawk T2/128 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bae_Hawk) for the T-X program. BAE would like to propose the Hawk T2, which features an all glass cockpit, new wing, and fuselage components, although the basic Hawk design dates back more than 36 years. BAE is counting on a low-risk, low-cost strategy for the competition. In 2011 BAE announced they were partnering with Northrop Grumman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman), who would be a manufacturing partner.





KAI T-50 Golden Eagle
Lockheed Martin, along with KAI, plan to propose their T-50 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KAI_T-50_Golden_Eagle) for the T-X program. While the T-50 was explicitly designed and built for the South Korean trainer requirement, Lockheed Martin officials have acknowledged that the aircraft was designed with replacing the T-38 in mind. The T-50 may also have an advantage, as Lockheed also builds the F-22 and F-35, the aircraft the new trainer is supposed to prepare pilots for. Lockheed anticipates proposing the T-50 with few changes, mostly avionics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avionics) related. They are considering moving the assembly location to the United States, from South Korea, if they win the contract.