US company Leonardo DRS is planning to set up a new facility in Tuskegee, Alabama, to produce its T-100 integrated jet training system.
The company’s T-100 aircraft is one of the contenders in the US Air Force (USAF) T-X trainer aircraft competition, which seeks to replace the service's ageing fleet of jet trainers.
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The T-100 Team selected Moton Field Municipal Airport in Tuskegee for the new aircraft manufacturing site and final assembly line.
Leonardo DRS CEO William J. Lynn said: “Building the T-100 aircraft in Alabama will create American jobs, while providing the air force with the world’s best trainer.”
The company noted that consolidation of T-100 integrator and airframe manufacturer under one roof is expected to streamline the proposal’s management.
T-100 features an embedded training system, fifth-generation cockpit, open system architecture and in-flight refuelling capability.
The aircraft is designed to receive mission-focused next-generation enhancements to meet the USAF's demanding requirements.
The low-cost, low-risk integrated training system will be used by the USAF to train military pilots.
T-100's embedded tactical training simulation (ETTS) suite function facilitates both stand-alone and multi-ship networked operations, and aircraft and simulators can be networked through a dedicated training datalink to exchange tactical scenario data with other participants.
The system is powered by Honeywell Aerospace’s twin F124 turbofan propulsion engines, which are to be manufactured in Phoenix, Arizona.
CAE USA will take the responsibility for the provision of the ground-based training system, which will be developed in Tampa, Florida.
