Japan selects the T-6 Texan II as its new trainer aircraft

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — The Japanese government has selected a new U.S.-built basic trainer aircraft and associated ground equipment for its air force’s pilot training program.

The Japan Air Self-Defense Force, or J.A.S.D.F., will adopt the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II, officials said in late November. Textron Aviation Defense and Japanese partner Kanematsu Corporation had teamed up to bid in the competition.

Japan invited bids in August, and the T-6 was selected ahead of Subaru’s proffer of the Pilatus PC-7 MKX and Daihyaku Shoji, which had teamed up with Turkish Aerospace to offer the Hürkus trainer. Another entry lodged by the Oct. 15 deadline had been Shintoa Trading, but it was rejected as it did not propose any aircraft.

Japan’s Ministry of Defense (MoD) explained that in the second-stage evaluation the T-6 and related ground training equipment had “the highest evaluation score” and was therefore selected as the J.A.S.D.F.’s next-generation basic trainer. The aircraft will be built in the United States rather than license-produced in Japan.

“The T-6 Integrated Training System (ITS) is a proven, highly capable, best-value system which enables the JASDF to fulfill not only their current training requirements, but can also grow and adapt to keep pace with evolving future requirements,” Tom Webster, vice president of sales at Textron Aviation Defense, said.

Japan’s MoD did not state how many aircraft would be acquired, since a contract has not yet been finalized.

The T-6, presumably the T-6C version aimed at export markets, is due to replace 49 examples of the T-7 in the basic trainer role. However, the quantity of T-6s will likely be less than that given that simulators play an important role in the ITS program.

The T-7, manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries from 2002 onwards, derived from the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor. The T-7 is due to begin retiring in fiscal 2030.

In its fiscal 2025 budget proposal, released in August, the MoD listed a project to “acquire new primary trainer and ground training equipment with the aim of operating them integrally…to efficiently and effectively train pilots of advanced fighter aircraft.”

Beechcraft’s Texan II has enjoyed recent success in Asia-Pacific. The company is on tap to deliver 12 T-6Cs to Vietnam, with the first trio handed over last month. The sale followed Washington’s lifting of a ban on weapon sales to the Southeast Asian country in 2016.

Additionally, Thailand has received 12 T-6TH trainers, and eight AT-6TH Wolverines are in the midst of delivery. An earlier T-6C adopter in the region was New Zealand, which operates 11 examples in the training role.