Northrop Grumman has withdrawn from the team led by Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC), which is competing with its clean-sheet Freedom aircraft for the US Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System program.
Following Northrop Grumman’s departure, SNC and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) will continue their bid for the Freedom trainer. Northrop joined the industry team alongside GA-ASI in February, making its exit roughly seven months after entering the competition.
Northrop said the decision reflects its intention to focus resources on opportunities where its established capabilities and investments can deliver greater mission impact, according to a company statement cited by Breaking Defense.
US Navy’s Search for a New Jet Trainer
Launched in 2018, the Undergraduate Jet Training System program is intended to replace the T-45 Goshawk, the US Navy’s carrier-capable trainer that has been in service since the 1990s.
The competition initially involved four major industry teams, but several withdrawals have reduced the field. The Boeing-Saab team later exited the competition with its T-7A Red Hawk proposal, citing schedule and qualification risks related to engine configuration requirements.
The SNC-GA-ASI team and the Textron Aviation-Leonardo partnership are now the two remaining contenders. Textron Aviation and Leonardo are offering the Beechcraft M-346N as their proposed training aircraft.
The US Navy has also postponed its planned contract award decision, with the selection now scheduled for June 30, 2027.
