- The United States Navy issued a solicitation for the Undergraduate Jet Training System to develop a new jet trainer aircraft and integrated training system.
- The program reflects a shift toward simulator-based training, with the new aircraft not required to perform traditional carrier landing touch-and-go practice.
The United States Navy has issued a request for proposals for its Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS), seeking a new jet trainer aircraft and associated training systems for Navy and Marine Corps aviators, according to a March 26 solicitation from the U.S. Department of War.
Proposals are due by June 29, 2026.
The program is intended to update how naval pilots are trained as existing aircraft age and operational requirements evolve. The new system is designed to better prepare pilots for modern combat aircraft, which rely on advanced avionics, sensors, and networked operations.
According to the solicitation, the Navy is seeking a complete training solution that includes aircraft development, an initial batch of production jets, ground-based training systems, and contractor logistics support. The requirement covers “intermediate and advanced training” for student aviators before they transition to operational units.
The contract will include Engineering, Manufacturing, and Development (EMD) of the aircraft, followed by Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of the first units. It will also include simulators and other ground-based systems, along with interim support to keep the training system operational during early deployment.
The Navy plans to award the contract based on best value. While it expects to select a single contractor, the solicitation allows for two awards if that approach provides better results and funding is available.
As part of the evolving concept for UJTS, the Navy has adjusted some training requirements tied to carrier operations. Reporting by TWZ indicates that the future trainer aircraft will not be required to perform traditional touch-and-go carrier landing practice on land-based runways, a method long used to simulate carrier landings.
Instead, the training system will rely more on simulated environments and alternative methods to prepare pilots for carrier operations, while actual carrier landing qualifications will continue at later stages of training. This change allows the Navy to reduce design constraints on the aircraft itself and place greater emphasis on integrated training systems.
The UJTS program is not limited to a single aircraft. It combines jets, simulators, and digital tools into one system designed to train pilots more efficiently. The aircraft introduces students to jet performance and advanced controls, while simulators allow repeated practice of complex procedures without the cost of flight hours.
The program is part of a broader effort to modernize pilot training across the U.S. military. As aircraft systems become more advanced, training must replicate real-world conditions more closely, including sensor use, mission planning, and decision-making in complex environments.
The Navy’s current training pipeline relies on the T-45 Goshawk for intermediate and advanced jet instruction. The UJTS program is expected to replace or supplement that fleet with a more modern system aligned with current operational needs. The service is looking to acquire 216 new jet trainers to replace the just under 200 T-45s.