Beechcraft Defense Company Secures $210M Air Force Contract for 35 T-6 Military Training Aircraft

Beechcraft Defense Company announced it has signed a contract with the U.S. Air Force for the production of 35 T-6 training aircraft, with an option for two additional aircraft. The contract represents the 19th production lot of T-6 aircraft ordered by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy as part of the Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) procurement program, launched in the late 1990s.

The new contract is valued at $210 million and will comprise 33 T-6 aircraft for the U.S. Navy and two for the U.S. Army. Production of JPATS Lot 19, which will take place in Wichita, Kan., begins this month, with the final delivery scheduled for February of 2015.

"The signing of this latest production lot of our JPATS contract underscores the trusted partnership between Beechcraft and the U.S. Government, which continues to rely on us to deliver and support their fleet as we have for the past 13 years," said Russ Bartlett, president, Beechcraft Defense Company. "The contract will also provide increased stability for our Wichita workforce."