In early August the first four T-6C Texan aircraft built for the Vietnam People’s Air Defence – Air Force (ADAF or Phòng không nhân dân Việt Nam – Không quân) had been accepted by the US government through the DD250 process. At the time, Textron Aviation Defense was working through the aircraft documentation with representatives from the ADAF ahead of the aircraft being flown to Vietnam on delivery, planned for September.
The ADAF’s need for a modern trainer aircraft is significant. “ADAF pilots regularly fly over to the Chinese-controlled Woody Island in the Paracels [but in a straight line] and are unable to fly in severe weather or at night. These problems demonstrate the air force’s limitations over its East Sea and need for the T-6 and intensive pilot training,” Dr Stephen Burgess, professor of international security studies at the US Air War College, Air University, at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, explained.
“The United States and Vietnam have set up an aviation leadership program for ADAF personnel that lasts for three years and takes two to three students at a time. There is extra training in English to raise proficiency levels to international standards. Also, there is training in managing partnerships, aviation culture, and safety, as well as air competence, risk management, and maintenance.”
An initial cadre of Vietnamese pilots undertook English language training, US Air Force pilot training and pilot instructor training with Air Education and Training Command’s 559th Flying Training Squadron based at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. Initial follow-on training was conducted on Royal Thai Air Force T-6C simulators and aircraft at RTAFB Chiang Mai prior to the arrival of the first Vietnamese aircraft. Once aircraft have arrived in Vietnam, Textron Aviation Defense will provide ongoing training at the brand-new joint commercial-military Phan Thiet Airport located east of Ho Chi Minh in Vietnam. The military element will host the ADAF academy where all schooling, training and pilot training will take place.
In addition to pilot training, the ADAF plans to use its T-6C aircraft for maritime surveillance, a role that will require specific communication and navigation equipment, specifically two UHF radios, an embedded TACAN, and the carriage of stores and external fuel tanks. The T-6C’s maritime surveillance tasking will enable patrols of Vietnam’s 200-mile economic exclusion zone, and the protection of Vietnamese fisheries.
In August 2022, Textron Aviation Defense was awarded a $43.84 million sole-source contract from the Legacy Aircraft Training Division of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center for procurement, support, and supply of three T-6C aircraft, ground support equipment, two spare engines, spare parts, and country-specific technical orders, to an unnamed overseas customer.
The three aircraft are destined for the ADAF. Subsequent contract awards increased the ADAF fleet of T-6C aircraft to twelve. Textron expects to complete delivery of all 12 aircraft by mid-2025 with a mid-term sustainment effort also set-up.
Described as a pseudo-foreign military sale deal, it is the first between Vietnam and the US since the end of the Vietnam war.
The ADAF aircraft are being acquired with funding from the US Government under the Building Partnership Capacity programme, which the Defense Security Cooperation Agency defines as: “The focal point within the Department of Defense for planning, execution and management, and oversight of numerous Title 10 Security Cooperation programmes.
Vietnams T-6 acquisition falls under the global train and equip programme which supports, “the provision of training, services and equipment to national security forces of foreign countries for the purpose of building capability and capacity of partner nations.”
AT-6TH: Thai Light Attack deliveries commence
Since the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) accepted its first two AT-6TH aircraft in July 2024, a further four have been delivered under a unique process.
Prior to delivery, RTAF personnel travel to Textron’s Wichita facility to complete factory acceptance. The contract requires the company to ship the aircraft to Thailand instead of flying them. This involves disassembling each aircraft, placing the fuselage and the wing on separate palettes for shipment. Re-assembly is undertaken by Thai Aviation Industries. A Textron pilot then flies each aircraft with a RTAF pilot, to complete the acceptance of the aircraft; a process that confirms all systems work appropriately. The aircraft is then flown to RTAFB Chiang Mai, home of the 41st Wing for assignment to 411 Squadron.
Thailand procured eight AT-6H aircraft, training systems, parts, and support equipment in a direct commercial sale with Textron Aviation Defense to meet the requirements of the RTAF Light Attack Aircraft programme as the replacement for the fleet of L-39ZA/L-39ART aircraft which were retired in March 2021.
Eight pilots received flight training on the AT-6TH with Textron Aviation Defense at Wichita and subsequently completed flight instructor and test pilot courses on the type. Those pilots fly RTAF T-6TH trainers at RTAFB Chiang Mai to maintain their currency.
The RTAF requested its aircraft be equipped with the Link-TH data link system which adds an additional radio and transmission capability. Textron provided the RTAF with the aircraft’s existing software and the RTAF contracted Textron to work with Thai defence company R V Connex to modify the software. Textron is responsible for the software modification and installation of the Link-TH system.
RTAF tasking of its AT-6TH aircraft is primarily light attack in the close air support role, and border patrol searching for illegal immigrants and drug-running.
As part of its contract with the RTAF, Textron currently has a field service representative at Chiang Mai to provide technical support and hopes to set-up a long-term sustainment contract, likely on a cost per flight hour basis and maintenance support activities through a Thai company. In addition, the RTAF is potentially looking to procure more AT-6TH aircraft to operate from other locations, but nothing is yet on contract.