Textron Aviation Defense Announces Wichita Production Plans for Beechcraft M-346N If Awarded U.S. Navy's UJTS Contract
Advanced jet trainer program could bring major investment and jobs to Kansas
Textron Aviation Defense LLC, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company, today announced that if awarded the Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program contract by the U.S. Navy, it will assemble the Beechcraft M-346N at its east campus in Wichita, Kansas — the historic home of the Beechcraft brand for nearly a century. The announcement reinforces the company's commitment to delivering the most advanced jet integrated training system for the U.S. Navy.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251027291707/en/
Ready Now Beechcraft M-346N
Textron Aviation Defense expects to invest more than $38 million to modernize more than 50,000 square feet of existing manufacturing space on the company's east Wichita campus if awarded the contract. The program is expected to create an estimated 100 direct manufacturing jobs in Wichita, along with numerous indirect jobs supporting aircraft production and assembly.
"Wichita has long been the center of innovation for Beechcraft, and we're proud to continue that tradition as we prepare to support the Navy's next-generation training needs," said Travis Tyler, president and CEO, Textron Aviation Defense. "This announcement underscores our 85-year legacy of supporting the U.S. government with training aircraft from the American heartland."
The Beechcraft M-346N is the centerpiece of a low-risk, operationally proven integrated training system featuring Live-Virtual-Constructive capabilities optimized for advanced naval training. With more than 100 M-346 aircraft produced by Leonardo and a decade of performance training aviators for fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft, the M-346N offers a reliable, high-performance solution for the Navy's next-generation training needs.
The U.S. Navy has issued several Requests for Information ahead of an anticipated Request for Proposals for the UJTS program. Textron Aviation Defense anticipates the Navy will announce the contract award in January 2027 and believes that it is well-positioned to support the Navy's objective of accelerating Initial Operational Capability (IOC).
About the Beechcraft M-346N
The Beechcraft M-346N is a twin-engine, tandem-seat aircraft equipped with fully digital flight controls and avionics. It features a fly-by-wire flight control system with quadruple redundancy, a Head-Up Display and Large Area Display in each cockpit and hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls. Innovative safety features include the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS).
Powered by two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan engines, the M-346N delivers a maximum cruise speed of more than 590 knots and a service ceiling of 45,000 feet. Its advanced aerodynamic design enables exceptional maneuverability and energy management, while the elevated rear cockpit provides instructors with excellent visibility throughout all phases of flight.
About Textron Aviation Defense LLC
With a legacy of thousands of proven Beechcraft and Cessna Integrated Training Systems produced and missionized in America's Heartland since WWII, military customers turn to Textron Aviation Defense when they need airborne solutions for their critical missions. Provider of the world's foremost military flight trainer, Textron Aviation Defense equips militaries worldwide and leads in low acquisition, sustainment and training costs. Textron Aviation Defense is a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc. For more information, visit www.defense.txtav.com.
About Textron Aviation
We inspire the journey of flight. For more than 95 years, Textron Aviation has empowered our collective talent across the Beechcraft, Cessna and Hawker brands to design and deliver the best aviation experience for our customers. With a range that includes everything from business jets, turboprops and high-performance pistons, to special missions, military trainer and defense products, Textron Aviation has the most versatile and comprehensive aviation product portfolio in the world and a workforce that has produced more than half of all general aviation aircraft worldwide. Customers in more than 170 countries rely on our legendary performance, reliability and versatility, along with our trusted global customer service network, for affordable, productive and flexible flight.
For more information, visit www.txtav.com
About Textron Inc.
Textron Inc. is a multi-industry company that leverages its global network of aircraft, defense, industrial and finance businesses to provide customers with innovative solutions and services. Textron is known around the world for its powerful brands such as Bell, Cessna, Beechcraft, Pipistrel, Jacobsen, Kautex, Lycoming, E-Z-GO and Textron Systems.
For more information, visit: www.textron.com.
Certain statements in this press release may project revenues or describe strategies, goals, outlook or other non-historical matters; these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update them. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the risks related to U.S. Government contracts as described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the risk that the U.S. Navy does not choose the Beechcraft M-346N for the UJTS program.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251027291707/en/
Rachel Williams
316.706.7201
[email protected]
www.txtav.com