Textron Aviation Defense has secured a contract to deliver the first Beechcraft T-6JP Texan II trainer aircraft to the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, marking a key step in the modernization of Japan’s pilot training fleet.
The order follows Japan’s selection of the Texan II in January to replace its Fuji/Subaru T-7 trainers, which have been in service for more than two decades.
The agreement includes the delivery of two aircraft, along with comprehensive pilot training and sustainment support. Textron will collaborate with its local industrial partner, Kanematsu Corporation, to manage delivery to the JASDF, with both aircraft expected to be handed over in 2029. The contract also provides options for additional aircraft.
Designed as a two-seat advanced trainer, the Texan II prepares aircrew and ground personnel for the demands of modern fighter aircraft operations. The platform can be configured with precision training systems, a virtual training data link, digital terrain elevation mapping, and NATO-standard weapons systems, depending on mission needs.
The 33-foot-long aircraft is powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A turboprop engine rated at roughly 1,100 horsepower and fitted with a four-bladed Hartzell propeller.
Performance specifications include a top speed of 280 knots (322 mph / 519 km/h), an operating ceiling of 31,000 feet (9,144 meters), and a maximum range of 900 nautical miles (1,036 miles / 1,667 kilometers).
With more than 1,000 aircraft in service worldwide and over five million flight hours accumulated, the Texan II supports training operations in 15 countries and two NATO flight schools, including Japan.
