On November 29, 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced the selection of Textron Aviation Defense’s Beechcraft T-6C Texan II turboprop trainer to replace the Fuji T-7 aircraft currently used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) for primary flight training. Textron submitted its proposal in partnership with Japan’s Kanematsu Corporation. In parallel, Shintoa Corporation presented a separate bid focused exclusively on a ground training system. This selection marks a key milestone in the modernization of JASDF’s pilot training infrastructure.
