SNC Drops Out Of Navy’s Jet Trainer Competition

Leaves Textron Aviation Defense As Only Competitor

Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is no longer competing for the Navy’s new training jet, Breaking Defense reported.

The decision not to compete may leave the Navy with only one true competitor, Textron Aviation Defense’s M-346N trainer.

“With great respect for the Navy and PMA-273, SNC could not responsibly bid the UJTS (Undergraduate Jet Training System) program under the current contract structure,” SNC said in a statement to Breaking Defense. “We do remain committed to naval jet training and stand ready to re-engage if the approach is revisited.”

Textron Aviation Defense, the only known major competitor to SNC, confirmed the firm submitted its offering of the M-346N to the Navy.

A spokesperson for Textron told Breaking Defense in an email today that the firm is “ready to support the U.S. Navy and its future training needs.”

The field of competitors for the program had already narrowed in recent months, after Lockheed Martin announced in April it would not submit its offer of the TF-50N with Korea Aerospace Industries for the program. Similarly, Boeing announced in June it also would no longer participate in the competition.

The Navy plans for the UJTS to succeed the service’s T-45 Goshawk fleet that first entered the Navy’s fleet in the early 1990s to train both Navy and Marine Corps aviators for jet carrier aviation and tactical strike missions.

Photo courtesy of Textron

FMI: www.navy.mil