Defense News

U.S ,India

The US Navy is speeding up its hunt for a replacement for its aging fleet of Boeing T-45 Goshawk training aircraft. Budget documents suggest they could start buying a new system as early as 2026 under the Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program.

After nearly six years of looking into it, the Navy is now focusing on a land-based, twin-seat jet trainer that can simulate carrier landings. This is crucial for training Navy and Marine Corps pilots. They've moved away from the idea of a trainer launched from carriers.

Boeing's T-7A Red Hawk, which is already being used by the US Air Force, seems to be a top choice. But there are other contenders, too.

India has joined the competition by offering its HAL Tejas in the Lead-in Fighter Trainer (LIFT) variant. But the Indian Navy is worried about whether the Tejas can handle the weight for carrier operations.

As the 2026 procurement date approaches, competition for the UJTS program is heating up. Boeing is keen to expand the success of the T-7A Red Hawk and has hinted at developing a Navy-specific version.

The selection process will depend on the technical solutions proposed, how well they match Navy training needs, cost-effectiveness, and whether they can be upgraded in the future.

In the coming months, we'll get a clearer picture as companies fine-tune their proposals to meet the US Navy's specific and changing training requirements.