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17 November 2021, 08:15 (CST)
Royal Thai Air Force fleet of 12 Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II nearing manufacturing completion, aces installment milestone inspections
WICHITA, Kan. (Nov. 18, 2021) – Textron Aviation Defense LLC today announced the fleet of 12 Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II aircraft is nearing manufacturing completion and surpassing technical inspection milestones ahead of schedule. The $162 million contract, which RTAF awarded in October 2020, features 12 aircraft as well as ground-based training systems for pilots and maintenance professionals, a mission planning and debrief system, spare parts and ground support equipment. The work in support of this contract is taking place at the company's Wichita, Kansas facilities.
The Beechcraft T-6 Texan II is designed and manufactured by Textron Aviation Defense LLC, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company.
"The Royal Thai Air Force is eager to equip its cadre of student pilots with the Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II aircraft," said Betsy Relph, the Textron Aviation Defense T-6 program manager for Thailand. "We showcased all 12 of the aircraft during a recent visit from the RTAF acceptance committee and are especially proud that RTAF Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya was here to fly the T-6."
Slated to arrive at the Royal Thai Air Force Flying Training School located at Kamphaeng Saen Air Base between late 2022 and early 2023, the aircraft are on schedule as they progress down the production line.
"Flying the RTAF Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II from the historic hangar where the entire global fleet of T-6 aircraft are manufactured was a very memorable milestone," said RTAF Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya. "These aircraft will equip our students with a significant technological advantage in preparation for their transition to advanced fighter and attack aircraft."
The Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II holds the distinction of being the first RTAF procurement contracted in support of S-Curve 11, a Thai plan that focuses on the modernization of key capabilities and promotes the development of the Thai defense industry.
To date, the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II has logged more than 4.6 million flight hours across a global fleet of nearly 1,000 aircraft and achieves daily readiness rates of up to 91 percent among the Textron Aviation Defense-supported international T-6 fleet. Each year more than 300 pilots from 42 countries graduate from T-6 training via the NATO Flight Training program in Canada, the Euro NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training Program (ENJJPT) at Sheppard AFB in Texas and the U.S. Air Force Aviation Leadership Program. Another 2,000-plus pilots graduate from T-6 programs across the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps, Army and Coast Guard while more than 2,700 pilots graduate from T-6 programs across the Hellenic Air Force, the Argentine Air Force, the Israeli Air Force, the Royal Air Force, the Iraqi Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, Mexican Navy, the Mexican Air Force, the Royal Moroccan Air Force, the Colombian Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The RTAF also recently awarded Textron Aviation Defense a $143 million contract for an Integrated System in support of the 41st Wing light attack operations at Chiang Mai Air Base. The historic contract for eight Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine aircraft, ground support equipment, spare parts, training, and other equipment establishes Thailand as the international launch customer for the USAF's latest light attack aircraft. The procurement of the AT-6 — designated the Beechcraft AT-6TH in Thailand — supports the S-Curve 11 plan and the mutual defense cooperation between the U.S. and Thailand.
About the Beechcraft AT-6TH Wolverine & Beechcraft AT-6E Wolverine
Purpose-built for light attack, counter-insurgency and Countering Violent Extremist Organizations (C-VEO) missions, the high performance, low risk Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine capitalizes on the proven heritage of the T-6 Texan II and delivers 4th generation capabilities at 2nd generation acquisition, operating and sustainment costs. The U.S. Air Force is the first U.S. operator of the Beechcraft AT-6 Wolverine and Thailand is the first international operator.
About the Beechcraft T-6TH Texan II & Beechcraft T-6C Texan II
Purpose-built for a wide range of capabilities, the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II prepares military pilots for real world missions. Tens of thousands of aviators worldwide have begun their aviation careers in the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II. Textron Aviation Defense designed each training capability – from initial pilot screens to advanced operational training – to support military requirements, equipping pilots with the expertise and confidence to graduate and achieve success in their next phase of training. In operation across two NATO military flight schools and 12 nations, the global fleet of nearly 1,000 T-6s has surpassed 4.6 million flight hours and achieves daily readiness rates of up to 91% among the international T-6 fleet. Thailand is the first Asian nation and the eleventh international fleet operator of the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II.
Air Chief Marshal Chanon Mungthanya, an F-16 pilot in the Royal Thai Air Force, prepares to fly the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II during his November 2021 visit to Textron Aviation Defense in Wichita, Kansas.
About Textron Aviation Defense LLC
When military customers need airborne solutions for their critical missions, they turn to Textron Aviation Defense. With a legacy of thousands of proven Integrated Training Systems (ITS) and Integrated Weapon Systems (IWS) produced and missionized in America's Heartland since WWII, the family of Textron aircraft equip militaries worldwide with the lowest acquisition, sustainment and training costs on the market. Provider of the world's leading military flight trainer, the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II fleet of nearly 1,000 aircraft has logged more than 4.5 million hours across two NATO military flight schools and a dozen countries worldwide since 2001. For more information, visit www.defense.txtav.com | www.scorpionjet.com.
About Textron Aviation
We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 90 years, Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. company, has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops, and high-performance pistons, to special mission, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable and flexible flight.
For more information, visit www.txtav.com.
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Hawker, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO, Arctic Cat, Textron Systems, and TRU Simulation + Training. For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements which may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, changes in foreign military funding priorities or budget constraints and determinations; changes in government regulations or policies on the export and import of military products; changes in aircraft delivery schedules or cancellations or deferrals of orders.
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Sylvia Pierson
Textron Aviation Defense -
Director, Communications & Marketing
spierson@txtav.com
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