Tunisian Air Force Enhances Training with Arrival of First Advanced Beechcraft T-6C Texan II
Textron Aviation Defense has officially revealed the transfer of the inaugural Beechcraft T-6C Texan II Integrated Training System to the Tunisian Air Force, enhancing operations at No. 13 Squadron located at Sfax Air Base in Tunisia. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) agreement encompasses eight T-6C Texan II advanced military training aircraft, in-country field service and logistics support personnel, program management assistance, temporary contractor support for the first year, training for both pilots and maintenance specialists, spare engines, spare components, and aircraft support apparatus.
The Beechcraft T-6C Texan II is expertly crafted by Textron Aviation Defense LLC, a fully owned subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc., which is part of Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT).
“Textron Aviation Defense is privileged that the Tunisian Air Force has selected the world’s premier and most cost-effective military trainer — the legendary Beechcraft T-6C Texan II — as its forthcoming primary trainer,”
stated Fouad Kasri, director of Sales & Strategy for Africa and the Middle East, Textron Aviation Defense.
“Textron Aviation Defense is privileged that the Tunisian Air Force has selected the world’s premier and most cost-effective military trainer — the legendary Beechcraft T-6C Texan II — as its forthcoming primary trainer,” stated Fouad Kasri, director of Sales & Strategy for Africa and the Middle East, Textron Aviation Defense. “Tunisia is the thirteenth nation to acquire the T-6 and has now taken delivery of the 1,001st T-6 produced by our team in Wichita. We take great pride in welcoming yet another North African and Mediterranean allied nation into the esteemed circle of global air forces that depend on the next-generation T-6 Integrated Training System to fulfill their pilot training aspirations.”
Textron Aviation Defense worked in partnership with the U.S. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) and the U.S. Air Force Security Assistance Training Squadron (AFSAT) to facilitate the Tunisian Air Force’s modernization and enhancement program.
“Our goal of becoming a regional authority in military flight training excellence is a significant milestone on our journey to meeting our counter-terrorism and border security mission needs,” remarked General Mohamed Hajjem, Chief of Staff of the Tunisian Air Force. “We extend our gratitude to Textron Aviation Defense, AFLCMC, and AFSAT for aiding in our acquisition of the Beechcraft T-6C Texan II, along with our endeavors to reach territorial security and regional stability. This acquisition lays the foundation for further bilateral collaborations and fortifies our alliance with the United States.”
Textron Aviation Defense anticipates delivering the second T-6C to the Tunisian Air Force by late 2022. The remaining six aircraft are scheduled for delivery in 2023. Instruction for the initial group of pilots commenced on Oct. 31 at Textron Aviation Defense facilities in Wichita, Kansas.
Furthermore, the Tunisian Air Force plans to engage TRU Simulation + Training Inc., a subsidiary of Textron Aviation Inc, for a comprehensive array of training apparatus and supplementary support. The equipment — designated for setup at Sfax air base — comprises a ground-based training system, an operational flight trainer, and a computer-based training lab.
