Northrop Grumman T-X (Model 400)

History

The U.S. Air Force T-X program aims to replace the aging Northrop T-38 Talons in the role of advanced jet trainers. Past competitors include Boeing, Northrop, Lockheed, Raytheon and Textron AirLand, to a lesser extent.

Boeing, Northrop and Lockheed designs are still leading the way, with Lockheed's proposal based on the existing T-50 Golden Eagle (jointly developed by KAI and Lockheed) operating in South Korea. Both Boeing and Northrop's submissions were "clean" designs - although initially Northrop did offer an advanced form of what was sometimes the BAe System Hawk (Hawk T2/128).

The service is looking for 350 aircraft to fill the role of senior trainer. Initial operating capability (IOC) of the T-X is planned for 2023.

The Northrop prototype was revealed during testing in the Mojave Desert in August 2016. Like the competing Boeing T-X, the Northrop model is powered by a single General Electric F404 (non-afterburner) turbofan engine (17,200 lb thrust) - already in the USAF's logistical inventory. The two crew members sit in a traditional tandem-seat cockpit arrangement with the engine mounted aft.

The engine is drawn in by a split air intake system and expelled through a single port under the tail. A tricycle chassis is installed. The prototype T-X was built by Scaled Composites.

Unlike the Boeing T-X product, the Northrop aircraft has a vertical stabilizer and low-mounted wing main aircraft. In addition, there is a protruding "spine" along the side of the fuselage - a longitudinal line in the cross section of the fuselage usually found on "stealth" aircraft.

The T-X trainer is classified as a "5th generation jet" - designed to train a new generation of pilots for new platforms such as Lockheed's F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II systems.

While Boeing is working with Sweden's Saab on its T-X proposal, Northrop has partnered with BAe Systems and L-3 Communications. The Northrop T-38 Talon - officially introduced in 1961 - has been in service for over 50 years with 1,146 aircraft built.

That added 95,000 pilots, who spent about 17 million training hours on the system, according to Northrop marketing materials.

Northrop recently won the U.S. Air Forces next-generation bomber competition, beating longtime rival Boeing.

The Northrop Grumman T-X values ??shown on this page are estimated by the authors. When the manufacturer announces the official specifications of the aircraft, they will be revised.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Performance

Changes