Introducing the Beechcraft M-346N: The Game-Changer for U.S. Navy Jet Training!
Wichita, Kan. (July 28, 2025) — Textron Aviation Defense LLC, a subsidiary of Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), today unveiled its proposal for the Beechcraft M-346N jet as a “ready-now” option from a legendary American manufacturer for the U.S. Navy Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) initiative. The U.S. Navy has issued several Requests for Information pertaining to an upcoming Request for Proposals for a new aircraft designated for the UJTS initiative.
Textron Aviation Defense and Leonardo have forged a collaboration agreement to jointly fulfill the Navy’s specifications for its new jet trainer. The Beechcraft M-346N is a component of a tested integrated training framework founded on the original M-346 aircraft created by Leonardo. Over 100 Leonardo M-346 aircraft are already addressing the rigorous training demands of 4th and 5th generation air forces globally, including at Italy’s esteemed International Flight Training School (IFTS).
With a legacy deeply embedded in the durability and trustworthiness of American manufacturing, the Beechcraft M-346N joins a prestigious collection of aircraft built on 95 years of aviation prowess. This aircraft could serve as the foundation for the Navy’s future undergraduate jet training, merging operationally-validated performance with state-of-the-art technologies. Travis Tyler, president and CEO, Textron Aviation Defense
Textron Aviation Defense, located in Wichita, Kansas, produces Cessna and Beechcraft airplanes for military operations worldwide. Since World War II, armed forces have depended on these renowned brands for high-performance training and tactical aircraft.
About the Beechcraft M-346N
The Beechcraft M-346N — a twin-engine, tandem-seat aircraft featuring fully digital flight controls and avionics — is outfitted with a fly-by-wire flight control system boasting quadruple redundancy, an advanced human-machine interface complete with Head-Up Display and Large Area Display in each cockpit, hands-on throttle and stick (HOTAS) controls, and pioneering safety features such as the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto-GCAS).
Equipped with two Honeywell F124-GA-200 turbofan engines, the M-346N offers an inherently elevated level of safety along with remarkable performance, including a maximum cruise speed exceeding 590 knots and a service ceiling of 45,000 ft.
The aircraft’s sophisticated aerodynamic architecture ensures outstanding maneuverability and energy management, while the raised rear cockpit grants instructors superior visibility during all flight phases. This results in a trainer that effectively connects fundamental instruction and the high-performance realm of carrier-based fighter operations.
Advanced integrated training: A complete ecosystem
The extensive M-346N integrated training ecosystem, which has been validated and continually enhanced through the global operational experience of the M-346 integrated training system, is primed to deliver the Navy with a holistic solution that boosts student preparedness and operational efficacy while minimizing training costs and hazards.
The Beechcraft M-346N capitalizes on the operationally-tested Embedded Training System avionics suite for basic to advanced tactical training simulating sensors, weapons, and Computer Generated Forces. This allows students to interact in real-time via a Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) training architecture that integrates aircraft in flight (Live), simulators (Virtual), and computer-generated friendly and adversarial forces (Constructive). The innovative system also incorporates adaptive training backed by Artificial Intelligence, which continuously assesses student pilot performance data to customize learning trajectories, automate evaluations, and tailor instruction to individual strengths and areas for enhancement.
Along with its comprehensive array of high-fidelity ground-based training tools — including simulators, computer training devices, mission planning/management tools, and a carrier-based LVC environment — the Beechcraft M-346N provides a complete solution for preparing the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps aviators.
