Over seven hundred Raytheon T-6A aircraft are being purchased by the United States Air Force and the United States Navy. The Harvard II aircraft represents the latest airframe and engine improvements with modern avionics systems and displays. This aircraft has been optimised for the best training transfer capability for the new pilot proceeding from the primary flying phase through to advanced high performance jet trainers. The Raytheon family of aircraft has hundreds of thousands of flying hours in world-wide operations. The experience gained and the development of the aircraft from the Pilatus PC-9 has resulted in an aircraft of notable training capability and low technical risk.
All aircraft structures are semi-monocoque type with stressed skin.
The Harvard II cockpit is a stepped tandem configuration, equipped with anti-G suit connections. This ejection seat is from a similar series as installed in the Hawk 115. The propeller is a four-blade, all metal, Hartzell constant speed propeller with full feathering capability. An electronic Power Management System optimises control of the propeller and engine power by modulating the propeller blade angle and fuel flow scheduling. The aircraft has a hydraulically actuated speed-brake system, which can be operated from the front or rear cockpits.