LCA-Navy in the Running for US Navy's 2026 T-45 Replacement Program

The US Navy is accelerating its search for a replacement to its aging fleet of Boeing T-45 Goshawk training aircraft.

Recently released budget documents suggest the service could start procuring a new system as early as 2026 under the Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) program.

After nearly six years of exploration, the Navy has shifted its focus away from a carrier-launched trainer. Instead, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) is seeking a land-based, twin-seat jet trainer with the ability to simulate carrier landings, ensuring essential training for Navy and Marine Corps pilots.

While Boeing's T-7A Red Hawk, already operationalized by the US Air Force, appears a frontrunner, other potential contenders are emerging.

India also has entered the fray, offering its HAL Tejas in the Lead-in Fighter Trainer (LIFT) variant in response to the Navy's Request for Information (RFI).

However, whether the Tejas program can overcome the Indian Navy's concerns about the aircraft's weight suitability for carrier operations remains a question.

As the 2026 procurement date draws closer, the competition for the UJTS program is expected to intensify. Boeing, eager to expand the T-7A Red Hawk's success, has indicated it could develop a Navy-specific variant.

The selection process will hinge on the technical solutions proposed, their alignment with Navy training requirements, cost-effectiveness, and adaptability for future upgrades.

The coming months will bring greater clarity as companies fine-tune their proposals to meet the US Navy's unique and evolving training needs.

 

[Anant]

Highly unlikely. The USN wants an aircraft that will take repeated unflared landings without stressing the airframe, which may require modifications to the Tejas N.

Secondly, the delta wing of the Tejas does make for slightly more challenging low-speed performance, which was part of the reason why the Tejas LIFT lost to the Boeing T-7 for the USAF trainer program.

On top of that, the USN wants 145 aircraft, with atleast 20 being delivered each year. That is more than the physical infrastructure we have available, and HAL hasn't yet shown the ability to efficiently use what infrastructure is available.

Finally, there is the competition. The Macchi M-346 is also aiming to win the prize, as is the KAI T-50 and a variant of the Boeing T-7. In such a scenario, the Tejas' chances are minimal, though HAL should try if they feel it would help. I am not optimistic, however.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Highly unlikely. The USN wants an aircraft that will take repeated unflared landings without stressing the airframe, which may require modifications to the Tejas N.

Secondly, the delta wing of the Tejas does make for slightly more challenging low-speed performance, which was part of the reason why the Tejas LIFT lost to the Boeing T-7 for the USAF trainer program.

On top of that, the USN wants 145 aircraft, with atleast 20 being delivered each year. That is more than the physical infrastructure we have available, and HAL hasn't yet shown the ability to efficiently use what infrastructure is available.

Finally, there is the competition. The Macchi M-346 is also aiming to win the prize, as is the KAI T-50 and a variant of the Boeing T-7. In such a scenario, the Tejas' chances are minimal, though HAL should try if they feel it would help. I am not optimistic, however.

Has US every operated delta wing aircraft? Let alone the US navy.

Forget delta wing, US operating non US or western made aircraft is itself a fantasy. That is why I think the koreans are also long shot.

 

[Anant]

Has US every operated delta wing aircraft? Let alone the US navy.

Forget delta wing, US operating non US or western made aircraft is itself a fantasy. That is why I think the koreans are also long shot.

The US hasn't operated delta-winged aircraft in recent times. They did operate delta-winged aircraft very extensively in the early stages of the Cold War. Most of the aircraft that the F-14, F-15, F-16, and F-18 replaced were delta-winged.

 

[Pink Panther]

Has US every operated delta wing aircraft? Let alone the US navy.

Forget delta wing, US operating non US or western made aircraft is itself a fantasy. That is why I think the koreans are also long shot.

They made a F16XL delta wing prototype.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

They made a F16XL delta wing prototype.

Yeah, they tested it and rejected delta wings. US and russia prefer swept wings and cropped delta wings. France prefers delta wings. We operated mostly delta wing aircrafts before buying the sukhois and migs. Our design philosophy thus prefers delta wings

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

The US hasn't operated delta-winged aircraft in recent times. They did operate delta-winged aircraft very extensively in the early stages of the Cold War. Most of the aircraft that the F-14, F-15, F-16, and F-18 replaced were delta-winged.

Yeah, they seem to have rejected them, so did the soviets after Mig21. French, and eurpeans in particular seem to have stuck with them. And we seem to have borrowed their design philosphy

 

[charminar_waale_ismail_bhai]

Yeah, they seem to have rejected them, so did the soviets after Mig21. French, and eurpeans in particular seem to have stuck with them. And we seem to have borrowed their design philosphy

We borrowed on the Delta wing philosophy because the LCA was designed on the lines of Mirage 2000. Apparently IAF has a soft corner for the Mirages.

 

[beencensured]

Highly unlikely. The USN wants an aircraft that will take repeated unflared landings without stressing the airframe, which may require modifications to the Tejas N.

Secondly, the delta wing of the Tejas does make for slightly more challenging low-speed performance, which was part of the reason why the Tejas LIFT lost to the Boeing T-7 for the USAF trainer program.

On top of that, the USN wants 145 aircraft, with atleast 20 being delivered each year. That is more than the physical infrastructure we have available, and HAL hasn't yet shown the ability to efficiently use what infrastructure is available.

Finally, there is the competition. The Macchi M-346 is also aiming to win the prize, as is the KAI T-50 and a variant of the Boeing T-7. In such a scenario, the Tejas' chances are minimal, though HAL should try if they feel it would help. I am not optimistic, however.

Low speed flying is possible in Delta wing and Tejas naval. Remember French operate Delta wings in their navy like Rafale. Delta offer better low speed performance. Swept wings are better in Low altitude maneuverability, but Delta give better high Altitude performance. Tejas has one of lowest wing loading and so inherently Manurverable. But since America flies mostly swept wing aircraft so they will prefer swept wing aircraft for training.

 

[Kira]

The Boeing trainer seems to be the prudent option as it is already being operated by the USAF,and there is no requirement for a carrier variant as USN pilots are trained on carrier operations directly via Super Hornets.

 

[Anant]

Low speed flying is possible in Delta wing and Tejas naval. Remember French operate Delta wings in their navy like Rafale. Delta offer better low speed performance. Swept wings are better in Low altitude maneuverability, but Delta give better high Altitude performance. Tejas has one of lowest wing loading and so inherently Manurverable. But since America flies mostly swept wing aircraft so they will prefer swept wing aircraft for training.

I am not trying to say that the Tejas is inherently aerodynamically unstable or anything. However, delta-winged aircraft do have issues with maneuvering at low speeds, as you rightly pointed.

Now, most carrier landing practices are done at slow speeds. Do you really want a trainee pilot to do that on an aircraft which is harder to control at those speeds?

Other than that, I fully agree with your point.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

We borrowed on the Delta wing philosophy because the LCA was designed on the lines of Mirage 2000. Apparently IAF has a soft corner for the Mirages.

No, first inspiration for delta wing came from Mig21. IAF operated MiG21 in much higher numbers back then and it was workhorse of IAF. LCA was conceptualised in 1980s to replace MiG21s. MiG21 also had delta wings.

Tejas design started later, and was based on french jets because france was the only one building and selling delta wing fighters at the time. Even soviets had moved away from delta wings.

 

[Anant]

The Boeing trainer seems to be the prudent option as it is already being operated by the USAF,and there is no requirement for a carrier variant as USN pilots are trained on carrier operations directly via Super Hornets.

No, the idea for the T-45 replacement is to have an aircraft that can also be used for training pilots on carrier landings on carriers in port. That said, Boeing has proposed a variant of the T-7, and while I would normally say that variant would win, the T-7 program is currently beset with multiple technical issues and delays. Once fixed, however, the T-7 would be the winner for this contract bar the singing.

 

[Alok Gupta]

I am not sure why some people keep fantacizing about exporting the LCA. HAL doesn't have the capacity to fulfill the orders that the IAF, they just can't take any export orders.

 

[Anant]

No, first inspiration for delta wing came from Mig21. IAF operated MiG21 in much higher numbers back then and it was workhorse of IAF. LCA was conceptualised in 1980s to replace MiG21s. MiG21 also had delta wings.

Tejas design started later, and was based on french jets because france was the only one building and selling delta wing fighters at the time. Even soviets had moved away from delta wings.

Not quite. The original inspiration for the delta wing came from the Saab 37 Viggen, since the delta wing gave the Viggen some excellent flying characteristics. The tailed delta design of the MiG-21 was briefly considered, but quickly rejected.

There was some initial consideration about putting canards, but it was only after Dassault-Breguet was brought in as a consultant in 1986 that the canards were cancelled, and the design went forward towards what it is today.

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

Not quite. The original inspiration for the delta wing came from the Saab 37 Viggen, since the delta wing gave the Viggen some excellent flying characteristics. The tailed delta design of the MiG-21 was briefly considered, but quickly rejected.

There was some initial consideration about putting canards, but it was only after Dassault-Breguet was brought in as a consultant in 1986 that the canards were cancelled, and the design went forward towards what it is today.

I was talking about IAF's fondness of Delta wing. IAF never observed the Viggen, let alone flew it or observed its specs. Back then getting hands on western tech was a wet dream. The Migs were the supersonic fighters IAF operated. That started IAF's fondness for Delta wings, and later contributed to IAF going for French jets.

When Tejas was being designed, Mig21 had already become old design, that is why they took inspiration from newer french delta wing jets.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

How dare even someone expects US to consider a product which India itself discarded. Laughable article.

 

[Sandeep]

The USA is never going to buy our jet even if it's good. The USA can't be seen on the world stage that they can't design, develop, manufacture or finance their own military products or weapons. Otherwise countries will stop buying into the American world supremacy

 

[NSR]

All the export stories came to an end.
And now stories about Naval Tejas which the Indian Navy is not even considering for itself.
Few of them were made to test TEDBF technologies and for training at Shore Based Test Facility (SBTF) and for carrier landings.
Farfetched expectations ato say the least.

 

[kumar]

US will never import weapons from outside. When they were developing abrams, they went for thier own barrel design even when they had access to ready german barrel. This is builders mindset, which our IA has none.