Textron Aviation Defense has been awarded a contract worth over $150 million to provide program management and maintenance support for the US military’s T-6 Texan II training aircraft fleet. The agreement extends a 2021 contract covering systems engineering, portfolio management, repairs, and platform modifications.
The latest award includes support for the T-6A, T-6B, and T-6D variants operated by the US Air Force, US Navy, and US Army, raising the total contract ceiling to $510 million. Textron will carry out the work at its Wichita, Kansas facility over a five-year period.
Derived from the Swiss-developed Pilatus PC-9, the Texan II entered service in the 2000s to replace older training aircraft used for primary and intermediate pilot instruction. The two-seat aircraft measures approximately 33 feet (10 meters) in length and supports NATO-standard systems and modern training tools to meet evolving requirements.
Powered by a 1,100-horsepower Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A engine paired with a four-bladed Hartzell propeller, the aircraft can operate at altitudes up to 31,000 feet, with a range of 900 nautical miles and a top speed of 280 knots. To date, around 1,000 Texan II aircraft are in service across 15 countries, collectively accumulating more than 5 million flight hours.
