
On November 29, 2024, Japan’s Ministry of Defence announced its selection of Textron Aviation Defense’s Beechcraft T-6C Texan II turboprop trainer to replace the Fuji T-7 aircraft currently used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) for primary pilot training. Textron submitted the bid in collaboration with Japan’s Kanematsu Corporation, while a competing proposal from Shintoa Corporation focused solely on a ground training system. This decision marks a significant milestone in modernizing the JASDF’s pilot training capabilities.