Japan Chooses Beechcraft T-6 Texan II as New Primary Training Aircraft

The Japanese Ministry of Defense has selected the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II from Textron Aviation as its next primary training aircraft, replacing the Fuji T-7 in use by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).

This decision, announced on November 29, ends a long history of Japanese-built training aircraft, which started with the Beechcraft T-34 Mentor produced under license by Fuji, now Subaru.

The T-6 Texan II, offered by Kanematsu Corporation, was one of four proposals considered by Japan's Ministry of Defense. Kanematsu Corporation is the Japanese partner of the aircraft's manufacturer, Textron Aviation Defence.

Other contenders included the Pilatus PC-7 MKX, backed by Subaru, and a Turkish-origin aircraft proposed by Daihyaku Shoji. Another bid focused on ground educational equipment without an actual aircraft. The T-6 Texan II was chosen to replace the Fuji T-7, which has served as the JASDF's basic trainer since 2002.

Although some online discussions have speculated that the T-6 might also replace the Kawasaki T-4, the Ministry of Defense has not confirmed this. The T-6 Texan II, currently used by the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and several allied air forces, including those of the U.K., Canada, and Israel, is expected to be delivered in the T-6C configuration, likely the export variant of the T-6B.