Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) introduced its Freedom Trainer jet at the Tailhook Symposium in Reno, Nevada, marking its official entry into the US Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) competition. The program, designed to replace the aging T-45 Goshawk fleet, is expected to procure over 200 aircraft by 2030, with the first contract anticipated in 2027.
For the Navy, the choice of a new trainer is pivotal, shaping how future generations of naval aviators master flying, landing, and combat skills. SNC’s clean-sheet Freedom design distinguishes itself from rival offerings—the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk, Lockheed Martin KAI T-50N, and Leonardo Textron M-346N—all of which are derivative platforms. It is also the only aircraft capable of performing carrier touch-and-go maneuvers and Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) to touchdown, a feature aimed at preparing pilots for demanding deck landings while sparing operational fighters from training wear.
Built for durability, the Freedom Trainer features a 16,000-hour airframe life and trailing-link landing gear engineered for repeated heavy landings, combining advanced carrier-readiness with lower operating costs.
