Textron To Refurbish Iraqi T-6A Trainer Aircraft

Textron Aviation Defense LLC has won a $15.3 million contract modification from the US Air Force to refurbish 15 T-6A training planes in Iraq.

The modification is regarded as a foreign military sale to Iraq, the Defense Department said Tuesday.

The contract notes a schedule extension to a previously awarded contract, to July 31, for rebuilding the planes and installing cartridge-activated and propellant-activated devices.

The Iraqi Air Force bought its first eight T-6A trainers in August 2009 to replace its fleet of Cessna 172 Skyhawks and Cessna 208 Caravans.

The plane is used by the USAF for basic pilot training and Combat Systems Officer training, by the US Navy and US Marine Corps for primary and intermediate Naval Flight Officer training, and by the air forces of Iraq, Greece, Canada and Israel.