BAE Systems’ Beechcraft T-6C Trainer Selected For UK Military Pilot Training

BAE Systems announced today that its Air5428 pilot training platform, Beechcraft’s T-6C military trainer will be used to train the next generation of United Kingdom military pilots.

The Ascent consortium on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defense selected the Beechcraft T-6C as the aircraft to complement the BAE Systems Hawk T2 in the training pipeline to conduct fixed wing flight training for the Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Navy (RN) and Army Air Corp pilots. 

The Royal Air Force and Royal Navy now join the United States Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force as operators of the Beechcraft T-6C that will be used to train pilots in readiness for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). 

The New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) recently took delivery of its fleet of T-6C aircraft and has commenced the transition of this platform into training operations. As testament to the pedigree of the T-6C’s design, the NZDF has already extended the planned life of type for their fleet beyond the required 20 years out to 30 years.

Beechcraft’s T-6C has been put forward as the platform of choice for BAE Systems Australia’s Air5428 bid to support the Australian Defense Force’s future pilot training system.