Air Force Continues Trainer Jet Replacement Program

The Air Force is continuing steps necessary to replace the venerable T-38, a 50-year-old jet trainer originally conceived as a lead-in to the century-series fighters (F-100, F-102, etc.).

The winner of the T-X competition will replace Northrop Grumman’s T-38 Talon, in use since 1959. “The T-38 needs a replacement system by sometime in the 2020s,” a deadline that means the replacement program needs to be up and running “by the end of this decade” at the latest, Aboulafia said.

Because the US Congress hasn’t passed a budget in years, new programs are still not funded.  The “program” is essentially administrative research until the venture is appropriated.

ADVERTISEMENT

tagged with , , ,

One comment

  • MSgt Mike
    22 February 2013 12:33 am

    I agree the T-38 needs replaced, but so does everything else. We are still flying 60 year old tankers and bombers. Unfortunately, with the budget problems I do not see this program making significant headway for several years.