AF plans to rent T-50A jet trainers

The Air Force's Air Combat Command plans to award a sole-source lease contract to Texas-based Hillwood Aviation for up to eight Korea Aerospace Industries/Lockheed Martin T-50A jet trainers after awarding a $9.2B contract in 2018 to Boeing for up to 351 T-7A Red Hawk – future AF trainer jet. The reason for the rentals is to get a jump-start on its advanced pilot raining regime, and to refine capabilities needed for production of the T-7A Red Hawk, according to a sole-source notice posted online in January. The sole-source award is being protested by Mission System Solutions, which is offering the Leonardo M-346 jet trainer. Both aircraft (T-50A and M-346) were bid for the T-X trainer, but lost to Boeing. There is no indication Boeing’s T-7A contract is being replaced, according to a Flight Global report. The AF initiative is called Reforge Proof of Concept, which is a reference to another idea called Rebuilding the Forge, designed to speed up the pace of fighter pilot training while using the T-7A. The concept of operations “deliberately develops and experiences fighter aviators with relevant tactical skills prior to their fighter’s Formal Training Unit,” reads the sole-source award; and to educate them on fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft they will be flying. The AF wants to see if the idea can complete more training earlier to relieve the workload on operational squadrons. The T-7A is still in the final stages of development and testing. It’s not available for use in this experiment. The first T-7A is not scheduled to arrive at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, until 2023. (Source: Flight Global 03/19/20) https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/us-air-force-looks-to-rent-t-x-contest-losers-to-prepare-for-boeing-t-7a/137416.article