The US aircraft manufacturer Boeing was awarded with contract worth 9.2 billion USD for creation of training aircraft for the US Air Force. Boeing will develop a new training aircraft jointly with the Swedish Saab AB.
In total, the air force plans to acquire 351 aircraft and 46 flight simulators. An additional contract option involves the acquisition of 475 aircraft and 120 aircraft simulators.
The first deliveries of the aircraft should begin in 2023, and the contract must be fully completed by 2034.
Boeing overtakes Lockheed Martin, which offered the Air Force a modified version of the T-50 training aircraft, developed together with Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. While the company Leonardo DRS offered aircraft T-100, a modification of the Italian M-346.
The US Air Force plans to replace the T-38 training aircraft, which have been in use for nearly 50 years. According to analysts, up to 600 new aircraft can be bought to replace them.