Textron Aviation Defense has finalized a contract to supply the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) with its first Beechcraft T-6JP Texan II training aircraft.
The acquisition follows Japan’s decision in January to select the Texan II as a replacement for its aging Fuji/Subaru T-7 trainer fleet, which has been in operational service since the early 2000s.
Under the agreement, Textron will deliver two aircraft along with pilot instruction and sustainment training packages. The company will work in coordination with its Tokyo-based partner, Kanematsu Corporation, to complete the handover, with both aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2029.
Textron confirmed that the contract includes options for additional aircraft purchases in the future.
The T-6JP Texan II is a two-seat turboprop trainer designed to prepare pilots and maintenance crews for the operation of advanced fighter aircraft. Depending on training requirements, the platform can be fitted with precision training aids, an onboard virtual training data link, a digital terrain elevation system, and NATO-standard weapons interfaces.
Measuring 33 feet (10 meters) in length, the aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engine producing approximately 1,100 horsepower, driving a four-bladed Hartzell propeller.
The Texan II has a maximum speed of 280 knots (322 mph / 519 km/h), a service ceiling of 31,000 feet (9,144 meters), and a range of 900 nautical miles (1,036 miles / 1,667 kilometers).
Globally, more than 1,000 Texan II aircraft are in service, collectively surpassing five million flight hours. With Japan’s induction, the platform now supports pilot training programs in 15 countries and two NATO flight schools.
