T - X program The T - X program has been established to enable the United States Air Force to buy a new two - seat jet trainer for fast - jet training to replace the Northrop T - 38 Talon ; the average age of the T - 38 fleet is over 43 . 5 years . About 350 aircraft are expected to be ordered to replace the T - 38 , but further purchases could push the overall purchase to over 1 , 000 . The notional in - service date for the replacement trainer was 2017 , but shrinking budgets have pushed initial operating capability to around 2023 . The program is expected to begin in FY 2017 . History . The USAF ' s Air Education and Training Command ( AETC ) has been developing requirements for the T - 38 replacement program since 2003 . Originally , the replacement trainer was expected to enter service around 2020 . A fatigue failure in 2008 killed the two person crew of a T - 38C , advancing the target service date to 2017 . In the Fiscal 2013 budget proposal the USAF suggested delaying the initial operating capability to FY2020 with the contract award not expected before FY2016 . Shrinking budgets and the need to fund higher priority modernization projects have pushed the IOC the T - X aircraft to " fiscal year 2023 or 2024 . " The delay was a direct result of budget constraints , so the T - X was pushed back to support higher Air Force priorities . Although the program was left out of the FY 2014 budget entirely , the service still views the trainer as a priority . In February 2013 there was an expectation that the program might succumb to budget pressures in the USAF . In May 2013 , the T - X industry day was postponed " until further notice " due to the fiscal climate . In December 2013 the head of the program said there were no plans for 2014 or 2015 , but that he would speak to the chief of staff about the program either in February 2014 or later . Requirements . One of the driving requirements for the new trainer will be to help prepare pilots for the increased complexity in some areas , particularly information management , that are a part of fifth generation jet fighter s like the F - 22 Raptor and the F - 35 Lightning II . The aircraft and simulation system will have to fulfill several basic training roles ; basic aircraft control , airmanship , formation , instrument and navigation , advanced air - to - air , advanced air - to - ground , and advanced crew / cockpit resource management . Furthermore , there are five advanced training roles that the system is expected to fulfill ; sustained high - G operations , aerial refueling , night vision imaging systems operations , air - to - air intercepts , and data - link operations . The 2009 Request For Information ( RFI ) mentions that some tasks , such as aerial refueling , may be performed in the simulator and not on the aircraft itself . Additionally , while the RFI is specifically for a USAF trainer , it asks potential suppliers about the feasibility of a fighter / attack variant of the aircraft and a carrier - capable variant for the United States Navy . However , the requirements manager for the program , Stephan Lyon , has stated that it is unlikely that potential combat performance will be considered . Similarly , while Navy officials will be participating in some stages of the program , carrier suitability will not be part of the evaluation . Potential competitors . Although the formal request for proposals has not been released , several competitors are expected to submit existing aircraft and others are considering all new designs . Those expected to propose existing aircraft are Alenia Aermacchi with the M - 346 Master , Korea Aerospace Industries / Lockheed Martin with the T - 50 Golden Eagle , and BAE Systems / Northrop Grumman with the Hawk . Boeing was said to be considering several options , including a new aircraft . Boeing had an existing partnership with Alenia to market the M - 346 internationally , and also with BAE on the T - 45 Goshawk . Boeing instead partnered with Saab Group to offer a new , purpose - built aircraft for offer to the US Air Force . Alenia Aermacchi M - 346 Master . Italian aerospace company Alenia Aermacchi plans on bidding its M - 346 Master for the T - X program . The company had initially considered submitting the aircraft as the prime contractor , but changed its mind in 2010 . It is now searching for a U . S . partner to bid with . The company also rebranded the aircraft as the T - 100 Integrated Training System for the competition . Alenia anticipates moving the final assembly location from Italy to the United States if it wins the competition . In January 2013 , General Dynamics joined Alenia Aermacchi and signed a Letter of Intent ( LOI ) to compete jointly on the program . In February 2014 , CAE Inc . joined General Dynamics and Alenia Aermacchi to offer the T - 100 as part of the T - X program . BAE Hawk . BAE Systems , along with Northrop Grumman , is proposing the updated Hawk T2 / 128 for the T - X program . BAE would like to propose the Hawk T2 , which features an all glass cockpit , new wing , and fuselage components . Although the basic Hawk design dates back more than 36 years , the only parts shared between the T1 and T2 versions are the canopy and airbrake , making the T2 version essentially a new aircraft . BAE is counting on a low - risk , low - cost strategy for the competition , augmented by the fact that BAE Hawk - based McDonnell Douglas - Boeing T - 45C Goshawk with glass cockpit is currently in use by the U . S . Navy to train Student Naval Aviator s and Student Naval Flight Officer s slated for tactical jet aircraft in the U . S . Navy and U . S . Marine Corps . In 2011 BAE announced they were partnering with Northrop Grumman , who would be a manufacturing partner . On 13 September 2013 , Rolls - Royce announced it would join BAE to offer the Hawk for the T - X program . Rolls - Royce will support the integration of the Adour Mk951 engine . KAI T - 50 Golden Eagle . Lockheed Martin , along with KAI , plan to propose their T - 50 for the T - X program . While the T - 50 was explicitly designed and built for the South Korean trainer requirement , Lockheed Martin officials have acknowledged that the aircraft was designed with replacing the T - 38 in mind . The T - 50 may also have an advantage , as Lockheed also builds the F - 22 and F - 35 , the aircraft the new trainer is supposed to prepare pilots for . Lockheed anticipates proposing the T - 50 with few changes , mostly avionics related . They are considering moving the assembly location to the United States , from South Korea , if they win the contract . T - X Boeing / Saab . On 6 December 2013 , Boeing and Saab Group announced that they would team up to offer a new aircraft for the T - X program . The companies believe they can undercut the cost of the Lockheed / KAI T - 50 .