T-6 Foreign Military Sales

Argentina	24
Greece	45
Iraq	44
Israel	26
Mexico	14
Morocco	24
NATO Flying Training in Canada	24
New Zealand	11
United Kingdom	11
US Air Force	452
US Army	4
US Navy	295

Deliveries of the T-6 began in 2000 after the aircraft was initially selected to fill the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System role for the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. Since then, additional military programs worldwide, including NATO Flying Training Canada, the Hellenic Air Force of Greece, the Israeli Air Force, the Iraqi Air Force, the Royal Moroccan Air Force and the Mexican Air Force, have chosen the T-6 as their primary trainer. By 2013, the company had delivered over 800 T-6 aircraft.

On January 18, 2005, the T-6B upgraded primary training aircraft began the first leg of its world tour. The tour included flight demonstrations in Europe, the Middle East and Asia on display at the Air Show Down Under in Avalon, Australia, the Paris Air Show in France and the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in the UK. On March 2, 2011, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation launched its Beechcraft T-6 demonstration team at the Australian International Airshow.

The T-6B export version is called the T-6C, which is an upgraded aircraft with a hardpoint wing. Morocco was the lead customer for the T-6C and requested 24 aircraft. The hardpoint wing provides the capability to carry external fuel tanks, practice bombs, weaponry, etc. The Moroccan’s plan is to use the hardpoints for fuel tanks.

Although FMS have been slow to materialize, some Government personnel believe there will be many foreign sales. They believe that the foreign governments have been waiting for the system to mature under United States Government funding before proceeding with their buys. One problem is, stiff competition from other manufacturers, chiefly Brazilian airplane maker Embraer and its Super Tucano, also a one- to two-seat turboprop offered as a trainer and light attack military airplane. Textron Aviation is also competing with Pilatus and Korea Aerospace in the military trainer market.

T-6 to Argentina

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Argentina for T-6C+ Texan aircraft, training, and support. The estimated cost is $300 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 29, 2016. The estimated value is $300 million.

The Argentine military has embarked on an ambitious path toward modernizing its military materiel. The proposed sale will revitalize Argentina's capability to train its pilots and fulfill border control missions, especially along its porous northern border. The Argentine Air Force (AAF) will use the enhanced capability to redevelop a professional pilot corps and as a deterrent to illicit activity. The AAF is very experienced working with the Pratt & Whitney PT6 family of engines which they currently have on their T-34, King Air, and Cessna Caravan aircraft. Given the logistical commonalities with the aircraft already in its fleet, the AAF will be able to support and field the new T-6C+s.

T-6 to Greece

The value of Greece's order for the T-6 Texan II basic trainer aircraft amounted to $200 million for 45 aircraft. Raytheon won the contract against competition from the Embraer Super Tucano and Pilatus PC-9G. Deliveries began in 1999, continuing through to 2002. The contract covered spares and a ground-based training system, as well as an industrial co-operation benefits package.

T-6 to Iraq

On 09 December 2008 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq of 20 T-6A Texan aircraft, 20 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $210 million. The Iraq Air Force's (IAF) current trainer fleet consisted of Cessna 172 Skyhawks and Cessna 208B Caravans. The IAF needed to supplement or replace its current trainer fleet with these new aircraft to modernize its air force and to facilitate its transition to the AT-6 light-attack aircraft.

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq for 24 AT-6C Texan II aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $790 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on May 13, 2014. The estimated cost is $790 million. The proposed sale of these aircraft, equipment, and support will enhance the ability of the Iraqi forces to sustain themselves in their efforts to bring stability to Iraq and to prevent overflow of unrest into neighboring countries.

T-6 to Israel

Israel requested the procurement of 25 T-6A Texan II trainer aircraft to replace its current fleet of Zukit trainers. They took delivery of their first aircraft in early 2009. The LOA signed September 11, 2008 is FMS Case # (IS-D-SAB), all aircraft have been delivered. Letter of Request (LOR) received December 20, 2010 requesting the procurement of one additional aircraft delivered September 23, 2012 and Technical Orders.

T-6 to Mexico

On January 9, 2012, Hawker Beechcraft Defense Company announced the first sale of its new Beechcraft T-6C+ military trainer to the Mexican Air Force. The T-6C+, an enhanced version of the T-6 military trainer aircraft, is capable of carrying external stores and delivering practice weapons for training purposes. The first two of six contracted FAM T-6C+ aircraft will be delivered to an advanced training base in Mexico’s northern region in early 2012. The new T-6C+ trainers will replace the FAM’s aging PC-7 fleet.

Mexico expanded its fleet of Beechcraft T-6C Texan trainers with a new order for two aircraft by the nation's navy, the company said 24 March 2016. The aircraft, designated T-6C+ models, will be delivered "this summer", Beechcraft said. The Mexican air force already had six T-6s, and had placed an order for an additional six aircraft.

T-6 to Morocco

On October 12, 2009, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation announced it was awarded a contract to provide 24 of its new Beechcraft T-6C trainer aircraft to the Royal Moroccan Air Force. The contract represents the first sale of the new T-6C trainer. On February 2, 2010, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation delivered the first four Beechcraft T-6A military trainer aircraft to the Iraqi Air Force. On March 8, 2010, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation announced the delivery of the 500th Beechcraft T-6 military trainer to the United States Government.

On July 19, 2010, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation rolled out the first of 24 Beechcraft T-6C military trainers ordered by the Royal Moroccan Air Force. The T-6C features key upgrades to the T-6 training platform capabilities, including an integrated glass cockpit, advanced avionics suite and hard-point wings that can accommodate auxiliary fuel tanks. On July 20, 2010 Hawker Beechcraft Corporation delivered the first eight Beechcraft T-6A military trainers ordered by the Iraqi Air Force. On December 13, 2010, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation delivered a specially painted T-6B Texan II trainer aircraft to the United States Navy as part of the commemoration of the Centennial of Naval Aviation.

On May 18, 2011, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation delivered 12 Beechcraft T-6C military trainers to the Royal Moroccan Air Force. On June 21, 2011, Hawker Beechcraft Corporation celebrated the delivery of its 700th Beechcraft T-6.

NATO Flying Training in Canada

Since October 2015, CAE has been the prime contractor responsible for the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC) program that produces qualified military pilots for defence customers. Previously, the CT-156 Harvard II was leased from Bombardier to provide basic training. As NFTC manager, Bombardier was responsible for fleet (x 24) maintenance but actual instruction is done by Air Force personnel from the CF Flying Training School.

The NFTC program significantly enhances CAE's core capabilities as a global training systems integrator (TSI), and expands its offering into support for live flying training of future military pilots, including next-generation fighter pilots, for the Royal Canadian Air Force and its allies. The NFTC program operates out of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan and Cold Lake, Alberta and is designed and operated in partnership with the Government of Canada. The program combines basic, advanced, and lead-in fighter training as part of the comprehensive pilot training program. In addition to classroom, computer-based, and simulator training, the NFTC program delivers live flying training on a fleet of Beechcraft T-6 (CT-156 Harvard) trainer aircraft and BAE Systems Hawk (CT-155 Hawk) lead-in fighter trainer aircraft.

Four countries, Denmark, Great Britain, Singapore and Italy initially committed to the program and started training alongside Canadian Air Force pilots in a fully integrated undergraduate and postgraduate military pilot-training program.

T-6 to New Zealand

The New Zealand Government announced the purchase of 11 T-6Cs for the Royal New Zealand Air Force for NZ$154 million, on 27 January 2014 to replace the PAC CT/4 Airtrainer, with all aircraft delivered by February 2015. The T-6C Texan II aircraft will be used to train our Royal New Zealand Air Force pilots on their Pilot course. This new capability will deliver 15-20 appropriately trained pilots annually. Following completion of WINGS, pilots will move straight into either multi-engine conversion training (fixed-wing aircraft) or rotary-wing conversion training (helicopters). The 11 T-6C Texan II aircraft will replace the CT-4E Air trainer while the B200 fleet will remain as the multi-engine conversion training aircraft. Two fixed base flight simulators and 12 avionics desktop trainers are also part of this complete training package.

T-6 to the United Kingdom

Ascent, in partnership with the Ministry of Defence (MOD) will deliver the UK Military Flying Training System (UKMFTS) through to 2033. The MOD announced 01 February 2016 a total investment of £1.1 billion that will enable Ascent to deliver the fixed wing element of training at key military sites across the UK. As part of this investment, a contract worth approximately £500 million was signed with Affinity who will provide the aircraft that will be used at different stages of the training. Affinity, which is a joint venture between Kellogg Brown and Root Ltd and Elbit Systems UK, will provide three aircraft types as well as their maintenance and support.

The training regime is also entering a new phase with the selection of the Affinity joint venture as the preferred bidder for the Aircraft Service Provider. The proposed Grob 120TP, Phenom 100 and T-6C will replace legacy aircraft that had cockpits bearing almost no resemblance whatsoever to those that the pilots will eventually be flying. Once fully operational in 2019, fixed wing flying training will see students conduct Elementary Flying Training on the Grob 120TP ‘Prefect’ before going on to complete either Multi Engine Pilot Training on the Embraer ‘Phenom’ 100 or Basic Flying Training on the Beechcraft ‘Texan’ T-6C.

Successful implementation of the Fixed Wing service will allow Ascent to take an ab-initio student and provide the complete training package to deliver Fast Jet Pilots and Multi-Engine Pilots and Rear Crew to the front line Operational Conversion Units. The Fixed Wing service will be designed to deliver Elementary, Basic and Multi-Engine Pilot Training in addition to training various Rear Crew positions for the Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and the Army Air Corps.