Textron Aviation Defence has announced its offering for the U.S. Navy Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS), the Beechcraft M-346N, developed in partnership with Leonardo. The aircraft is proposed as a “ready-now” solution to replace the T-45C Goshawk and train future naval aviators.

The M-346N builds on the proven M-346 integrated training system already used to prepare pilots for fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft at the Italian Air Force International Flight Training School and Leonardo in Italy. It will be adapted for the Navy with features such as the Live Virtual and Constructive (LVC) system, merging real and virtual environments to enhance student readiness and operational effectiveness while reducing training costs and risks.

With two engines the M-346N addresses safety concerns like bird strikes, a vulnerability of the single-engine T-45. Unlike the T-45 it will not be modified for carrier operations but is compatible with Field Carrier Landing Practice (FCLP) for land-based training replicating aircraft carrier approaches.

Travis Tyler, President and CEO of Textron Aviation Defense, said, “The M-346N joins a proud lineup of aircraft built on 95 years of aviation excellence. It can serve as the cornerstone for the Navy’s future of undergraduate jet training, combining operationally proven performance with cutting-edge technologies.”

Textron and Leonardo bring decades of flight training expertise and a global track record of supporting student pilots, positioning the M-346N as a high-performance ready-to-deploy solution for the U.S. Navy’s next-generation training needs.