Textron Aviation Defense announced on 25 November 2024 the arrival of five Beechcraft T-6C Texan II Integrated Training System (ITS) aircraft in support of the Vietnam Air Defense Air Force (ADAF) pilot training programme at Phan Thiet Airbase.
The delivery is a historic one as these primary trainers are the first of 12 T-6C Texan II ITS aircraft fulfilling the inaugural Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme established between the US Air Force (USAF) and the ADAF. They are thus the first US aircraft to be inducted into service in Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975.
Contracted in August 2022, the full fleet of 12 T-6C aircraft is anticipated to be delivered by mid-2025.
“It’s an honour to support the United States and its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam as together they focus on a prosperous, open, resilient, and peaceful Indo-Pacific Region,” Travis Tyler, president and CEO of Textron Aviation Defense, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “We also welcome the Vietnam Air Defense Air Force as the 14th nation to place its confidence in the T-6 Texan II and we celebrate the arrival of the T-6C at Phan Thiet Airbase.”
The initial USAF FMS contract award covered three T-6C ITS aircraft, a site survey, ground support equipment, two spare engines, spare parts, personal life support equipment, external fuel tanks and pylons, aircraft ferrying, programme support and country-specific technical orders. Subsequent contract awards increased the ADAF fleet of T-6C aircraft to 12.
Textron bills the turboprop-powered T-6C as “the world’s premier military flight trainer”, as it has an installed base of customers that more than quadruples its closest competitor.
To date the global fleet of more than 1,000 Beechcraft T-6 Texan II aircraft has surpassed five million flight hours across 14 nations and two NATO flight schools, according to Textron.
