Textron [TXT] is waiting until the Air Force releases its final request for proposals (RFP) for the T-X trainer before deciding whether to bid for the program, Textron AirLand President Bill Anderson said Wednesday via a spokesman.
The Air Force on Tuesday evening released its draft RFP for T-X, a program that could be worth as much as $8.8 billion. Anderson said Textron’s participation depends on the final requirements and timeline. To compete effectively, Anderson said Textron could only propose an aircraft that meets the customer’s published specifications. If the specifications require a twin-seat, sub-sonic, jet-powered, multi-mission tactical aircraft, Scorpion is the aircraft that would be the most logical fit in our current product line.
Teal Group Vice President of Analysis Richard Aboulafia said Wednesday it was unlikely the company would bid with Scorpion under the current requirements because it doesn’t feature the right wing to meet G requirements. Abolaufia said the company would need an “80 percent new plane” if it was to successfully compete for T-X.
The Air Force will grade aircraft performance on an acceptable/unacceptable rating system. Companies that are rated unacceptable for aircraft performance will not be awarded a contract. Aircraft performance includes high G maneuvering, maneuverability, high angle-of-attack maneuvering, takeoff and landing distance and flight endurance.
As part of high G maneuvering, the aircraft shall perform with an instantaneous G-onset rate of at least six G per second under the following additional performance ground rules: fuel weight at 50 percent, relative to maximum fuel capacity; pressure altitude equal to 15,000 feet; and airspeed no greater than 0.9 Mach.
Other teams still intend to compete for T-X. This includes Lockheed Martin [LMT] with Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI); Northrop Grumman [NOC] with L-3 Communications [LLL] and BAE Systems; Raytheon [RTN] with Leonardo, CAE [CAE] and Honeywell [HON]; and Boeing [BA] with Saab.
View the full draft RFP at Federal Business Opportunities (FBO). Read the evaluation factors, statement of work and system specification documents in Defense Daily’s document drawer.