Boeing and Saab to team for USAF T-X requirement

IHS Jane's Defence Weekly ^ | 05 December 2013 | Gareth Jennings

[sukhoi-30mki]

Boeing and Saab AB have signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to offer a solution for the US Air Force's (USAF) T-X trainer requirement, the companies announced on 6 December.

Boeing will lead the effort to develop and build a replacement platform for the USAF's aging fleet of Northrop T-38C Talon aircraft, with Saab acting as the primary partner.

"We will invest in development of this completely new aircraft design over the coming years," Saab President and CEO Håkan Buskhe said in a statement. As noted by Bushkhe, and reiterated to IHS Jane's by a Saab spokesperson, the new aircraft will be a completely 'clean sheet' design, and will in no way be a variant of the Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter.

The JDA is still very much in its early stages, but Boeing has previously released conceptual images of a proposed design for T-X that reveal a twin-seat, single-engined jet with a front end that resembles that of the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 and KAI T-50, and a diamond-wing and V-tail platform that is reminiscent of the Northrop Grumman YF-23. The Saab spokesperson declined to say if this would form the basis of the JDA T-X offering.

"It's no secret that Boeing is looking at a completely new design [for T-X], but we are not ready to talk about the design or performance specifications just yet," he said, adding; "More information will be forthcoming in the coming months."

According to the source, Boeing and Saab have opted to go down the route of a new design to exactly match the USAF's requirements. "Everyone else is trying to make existing aircraft fit the [T-X] requirements, but we are looking to make something that matches them exactly," he said.

Although the USAF has a state

[sukhoi-30mki]

A previously released computer-generated concept of a clean sheet design being touted by Boeing as its possible T-X solution. Source: Boeing

[Rich21IE]

Good grief! That’s modernistic!

[Conspiracy Guy]

I want one of the T38s. I’ve had the good fortune of logging several hours in them with an instructor over the years. I’m a general aviation pilot with most of my 800+ hours in Cessnas, Pipers, and the 2 seat amphib I built in 95 from a kit, (sold it in 2000). The T38 is surprisingly easy to takeoff, fly and even land. Visibilty is great and as long as you mind the numbers, she’s a joy. They can have their new trainer gimme the old one, plus fuel and maintenance for life, (when you wish wish big).

[ops33]

All that plus it is a beautiful aircraft. The only downside to the T-38 was its size. I was an air traffic controller in the USAF and in the tower the T-38 is a very hard aircraft to see.

[GreyFriar]

Since this is a TX requirement, I’m guessing that they want the new trainer TEXAS size so it is large enough that folks can see it. ;)

[ops33]

It wasn’t so much its size or profile. The color scheme would cause the aircraft to blend into the background.

[PLMerite]

It ought to be a picture of a computer console as they’re all going to be flying DRONES in the near future. /sarc

[Conspiracy Guy]

That’s a good thing sometimes.

[ops33]

It is but the T-38 was not developed for combat. Flying in the tower pattern they were hard to see, especially if there was haze in the area.

[Conspiracy Guy]

I know they’re hard to see. Even on a clear day. The F5 is hard to see as well. Especially straight on. I used to fly my amphib along the rivers all over Alabama. A lot of the T38 taining flights, usually 2 planes in formation, used to try to sneak up on me. I always spotted them if the were flying parallel to me even though they were booking it and I was doing 95 mph. But straight on it was always a surprise.

[zot]

As a trainer, it could be painted to be more visible.

[USNBandit]

Downside, besides operating costs, is that it isn't that much fun on a wet runway from what I have heard. I flew F-5s in the Navy which is a T-38 on steroids, lot of fun, much more maneuverable, but still sucked on a wet runway.

In other news, Textron just test flew a new airplane called the Scorpion today. The test pilot said it flew really well, but they all say that. Took two years from clean slate to flying version by using a combination of composites and Cessna business jet parts. Not great thrust to weight ratio, but would still be fun to have.