Textron Aviation Defense has begun a US tour to demonstrate the capabilities of the Beechcraft M-346N, one of four contenders for the US Navy’s upcoming Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program.
The UJTS program aims to replace the Navy’s aging T-45 Goshawk trainer fleet, which has been in service for decades, with a modern alternative. The US Navy says the winning replacement jet will deliver an advanced, integrated trainer that prepares naval aviators for fifth-generation fighters and carrier operations.
The two-seat M-346N twinjet departed from Beech Factory Airport in Wichita, Kansas, recently following its assembly at Textron Aviation Defense headquarters. There has been no word on potential stops for its nationwide tour, but flight tracking websites showed the M-346N’s location at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas as of September 17, 2025.
The M-346N builds on Leonardo’s proven M-346 design, which is already in service with more than 20 global operators and has accumulated over 150,000 flight hours. Textron emphasized that the aircraft represents a “ready-now” solution, pairing “proven performance with a modernized training ecosystem.”
“Assembled in the United States and backed by Beechcraft’s 85-year legacy of training U.S. military pilots, the M-346N represents the next evolution in jet trainer capability,” said Travis Tyler, Textron Aviation Defense President and CEO.
The aircraft is designed to bridge the gap between basic flight instruction and the advanced demands of carrier-based fighter operations. Its features include fly-by-wire controls with quadruple redundancy, advanced avionics with head-up and large area displays in both front and rear cockpits, and a “comprehensive” live-virtual-constructive (LVC) training network. Textron Aviation Defense said this “ecosystem” integrates simulators, AI-powered adaptive instruction, and real-time synthetic environments, while precision landing mode directly prepares pilots for naval carrier landings.
The M-346N is powered by two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofans, offering a top cruise speed above 590 knots and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. Its twin-engine design emphasizes safety and reliability, both key requirements of the Navy competiton, while the elevated instructor’s cockpit offers better visibility for training effectiveness, according to the manufacturer.
Textron Aviation Defense said it has partnered with Leonardo under a teaming agreement to pursue the UJTS requirement. The Navy has issued several Requests for Information and is expected to release a Request for Proposals soon, marking the official beginning of a competitive acquisition process.
The M-346 began as a 1990s joint project with Yakovlev before Aermacchi developed it independently into a Western-equipped jet powered by the Honeywell F124 engines and fly-by-wire controls. First flown in 2004 and certified in 2011, it has since entered service as a jet trainer in Italy, Israel, Singapore and Poland.
Textron’s M-346N will face strong competition from rival aircraft once the competition begins, each bringing its own international pedigree.
Boeing has put forward its T-7 Red Hawk, a single-engine jet originally developed with Saab for the US Air Force T-X program. The T-7 emphasizes modularity, digital design, and affordability, and its USAF adoption gives it credibility as a proven training platform.
Lockheed Martin and Korea Aerospace Industries have teamed up on the TF-50N, a navalized derivative of the FA-50 light fighter. The TF-50N offers carrier-capable modifications and benefits from a large existing fleet of FA-50 variants worldwide, giving it an established logistics and sustainment base.
Meanwhile, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) is pitching the Freedom jet, developed with Turkish Aerospace. This twin-engine design emphasizes safety and adaptability, and SNC has marketed it as a cost-effective trainer that can also transition into light combat roles.
The UJTS award is expected to be one of the most consequential U.S. military trainer procurements of the decade. The Navy’s decision will shape its pilot training pipeline for decades, with each competitor bringing different strengths — Textron stressing operational maturity, Boeing touting digital-native design, Lockheed/KAI leveraging global fleets, and SNC offering versatility and cost-competitiveness.
