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Philip Smart | Adelaide

The United States Air Force has moved one step closer to replacing its venerable supersonic T-38 Talon advanced jet trainer aircraft, releasing requirements for the “T-X” program that could see 350 aircraft acquired to replace the 438 Talons.

There are more than 100 listed requirements, but the Air Force has quoted the ability to maintain sustained G, the visual fidelity and performance of associated simulators and synthetic systems, and ability to sustain the aircraft over a long service life, as key factors.

As with all modern systems, an aircraft data link and significant synthetic training component will be part of the package.

“Cockpit and sensor management are fundamentally different today in 4th- and 5th-generation aircraft than it was when the T-38 was built in 1961,” said Brigadier General Dawn Dunlop, the director of plans, programs and requirements at Air Education and Training Command (AETC).

“While the T-38 has been upgraded to a glass cockpit, the inability to upgrade the T-38’s performance and simulated sensor capability presents a growing challenge each year to effectively teach the critical skills essential to today’s military pilots.”

Although the T-38s have had various upgrades in their 55-year service life, they can now only perform six of the 18 advanced training modules required under the syllabus, and availability has not met the AETC’s required 75% minimum since 2011.

The Air Force expects to award a contract in the second half of 2017 with initial operating capability by the end of 2023.

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