USAF plans T-X base roll-out

The US Air Force (USAF) has detailed where it will begin the roll out of the Advanced Pilot Trainer (T-X) aircraft when it enters service from 2022.

The air force is replacing its T-38C Talon aircraft with the T-X at existing undergraduate pilot training bases, with the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph in Texas named as the preferred location to receive the first T-X aircraft.

Other locations include Columbus Air Force Base (AFB), Mississippi; Laughlin AFB, Texas; Sheppard AFB, Texas; and Vance AFB, Oklahoma.

The T-X aircraft will provide student pilots with the skills and competencies required to transition into fourth and  fifth generation fighter aircraft. Basing the T-X at JB San Antonio-Randolph first, home to air force  instructor pilot training, is an essential step to establishing a T-X instructor pilot pipeline and sets the conditions to transition to T-X training at the other flying training locations.

The air force will now begin the required environmental analyses at all of the existing undergraduate pilot locations. Final basing decisions are dependent on the outcome of the environmental analyses.

The USAF expects to award a contract for the new aircraft in 2018.