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JBSA-Randolph hosts T-X immersion event

  • Published
  • AETC Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  The Air Force hosted an Advanced Pilot Training Industry Immersion event here for the T-X, Friday, Sept. 4.

The event afforded each registered vendor a session to engage with Air Education and Training Command and other government leadership on the APT program, also known as the T-X program.

The T-X is a replacement for the T-38 and will meet the Air Force’s advanced 5th generation pilot training needs for the next several decades. The T-X’s requirements focus on capability, adaptability, and affordability.

“The purpose of the Industry Immersion was to afford the new AETC Commander and his senior staff the opportunity to interact with the Advanced Pilot Training T-X vendors,” said Col. Philip Wielhouwer, chief of AETC’s capability requirements division. “The vendors previously participated in the May 2015 Pre-Solicitation Conference.”

The industry immersion event included a 45-minute session for each of the registered prospective prime vendors to meet and brief the Air Education and Training commander, AETC’S director of plans, programs, requirements and assessments, and other USG representatives.

The AETC commander, Lt. Gen. Darryl Roberson, said the event provided him with a better understanding of the T-X system.

“The Industry Immersion was an exceptionally informative event,” said Roberson. “As the incoming AETC Commander, I’ve now had the opportunity to engage with industry on T-X and I am better informed about what our prospective Advanced Pilot Training vendors plan to offer.”

The initial draft requirements were released in 2012, allowing industry to make more informed, early design decisions. T-X requirements identify three key performance characteristics for the APT mission. These include sustained G, simulator visual acuity and performance, and aircraft sustainment. While there are more than 100 requirements, these characteristics are the most critical to close training gaps and create strategic agility for the future.

Collaboration amongst all vested parties will shape a more capable and affordable pilot training system for the Air Force. The Air Force is making a concerted effort to maintain open dialogue with industry, allowing for clearer understanding of the cost impact of certain performance characteristics, as part of Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James’ Bending the Cost Curve initiative.

“In accordance with the Secretary of the Air Force ‘Bending the Cost Curve’ initiative, our dialogue with industry during this event will further our efforts toward delivering the Advanced Pilot Training T-X system with the best value that meets our requirements,” said Brig. Gen. Andrew Croft, AETC Director of Plans, Programs, Requirements and Assessments.

Currently, 350 T-Xs are scheduled to replace 431 T-38s in Undergraduate Pilot Training and Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals. The Air Force plans to finalize the T-X acquisition strategy later this year.