In partnership with Leonardo, Textron continues to offer the M-346N to meet the U.S. Navy’s requirement for a new jet trainer, to replace the aging T-45 Goshawk. TWZ caught up with Textron Aviation Defense’s Steven “JoJo” Helmer, flight test and demonstration pilot, at the Sea-Air-Space Conference this week in National Harbor, Maryland, to get a better understanding of the joint proposal. This is based around a Navy-specific version of the M-346, but, as he explains, this is just one component of a fully integrated training system.
Check out all the latest on the M-346N offering in our video below:
After all, a big part of the Textron-Leonardo team’s pitch is that the M-346 isn’t just a jet, but it is tied into a whole training enterprise that is already in use on a global scale, including for international F-35 pilot training.
In June of last year, the Navy released a new request for information for its new trainer, under the Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program. Helmer says he expects the service to award a contract for its new jet trainer in early 2027. In the past, the Navy has indicated a minimum buy of 145 aircraft.
While the Navy had been grappling with whether or not its new jet trainer needs to be carrier-capable, Helmer tells TWZ that the Navy has now signaled to the company that the “aircraft carrier is no longer going to be a direct part of real aircraft training,” with carrier approaches to be practiced from land bases and in the simulator. You can read more in detail about the arguments the Navy presented in the past for making this decision here.
The M-346N will offer some unique features over likely competitors, including twin engines. Although M-346 is not a supersonic trainer with an afterburner, the aircraft is still highly maneuverable and features a throttle detent system that mimics an afterburner to new pilots.
The competition to replace the T-45 should heat up soon, with the lack of a carrier operations requirement accelerating the acquisition of the aircraft, while also opening the aperture for more types to easily compete for the contract.
Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com