| UJTS Program | |
|---|---|
 T-45C Goshawk, to be replaced by the winner of the UJTS program. | |
| General information | |
| Project for | Advanced jet trainer |
| Issued by | United States Navy |
| Proposals | Boeing/Saab T-7 UJTS Beechcraft M-346N Lockheed Martin TF-50N SNC Freedom Jet |
| Requirement | Advanced Pilot Training System |
| History | |
| Initiated | 14 May 2020[1] |
| Predecessors | McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk |
The Undergraduate Jet Training System program, or UJTS program, is a United States Navy development and acquisition program for a new two-seat jet trainer to replace the McDonnell Douglas T-45 Goshawk.
History
editThe US Navy launched the first Request for Information (RFI) to replace the T-45C in 2020, with subsequent RFI's following in 2021, 2023, and 2024, with each RFI modifying the needs and requirements for the program.
Requirements
editCompetitors
editBoeing-Saab T-7B
editOn 23 February 2021, it was announced that Boeing would pitch a variant of the T-7 Red Hawk to the US Navy as the T-7B. It was further announced that the T-7B would compete as Boeing's entry to the US Navy's Tactical Surrogate Aircraft program, which seeks an aggressor aircraft. In 2023, Boeing stated that it would modify the T-7 to meet FCLP requirements.[2]
Lockheed Martin-KAI TF-50N
editIn 2021, Lockheed Martin announced a partnership with Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) to pitch the T-50 to the US Navy as the TF-50N.[3][4] The TF-50N is developed from Lockheed Martin and KAI's previous entry of the T-50A to the Air Force's T-X program.
Beechcraft M-346N
editSpeculation began circling that the M-346 would be offered for the UJTS Program in 2020, following the Navy's inital RFI.[5]
On 4 August 2021, Leonardo announced it would enter the UJTS competition with the M-346 at Sea Air Space 2021. It claimed that the M-346 would be capable of FLCP cycles and touch-and-goes on carriers.[6] On 17 September 2023, it was announced that Leonardo would partner with Textron Aviation to market the M-346 to the US Navy as the M-346N ITS. On 28 July 2028, Textron announced that the entry would be known as the Beechcraft M-346N.
SNC Freedom Jet
editSierra Nevada Corporation's "Freedom Jet Trainer" was originally unveiled to the public in 2017, when SNC (partnering with Turkish Aerospace Industries) revealed a mockup of it as a competitor for the Air Force's T-X program.[7] It was intended as a direct competitor to the similar Textron AirLand Scorpion as well.[8] After the Boeing/Saab T-7 Red Hawk won the T-X contract, no further work was noted on Freedom until August 2023, when SNC teased a photo of Freedom in an orange-and-white paint scheme.[2]
On 21 August 2025, SNC revealed its entry to the UJTS program at Tailhook 2025, an annual naval symposium organized by the Tailhook Association, where a mockup of an updated, navalized Freedom Jet was on display.[9] Freedom is a twin-engine, twin-tail, subsonic jet trainer powered by two Williams FJ44-4M turbofans. SNC claims that Freedom will be able to perform carrier landings or touch-and-go's, a quality that was dropped from the UJTS's requirements.[10]
Stavatti SM-31N Stiletto
editOn 13 July 2020, Stavatti Aerospace announced that they had submitted their SM-31T design as a response to the Navy's UJTS RFI.[11] Following subsequent updates to the US Navy's requirements, Stavatti made press releases announcing their continued SM-31T submission in 2023[12], 2024[13], and 2025.[14] There is intense skepticism about Stavatti's ability to deliver to the US Navy, with the company's failure to assemble manufacturing facilities or produce any substantial results or products. The SM-31T has been referred to as a "Long-Shot" entry to the UJTS program.[15]
- ^ "Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) Aircraft Request for Information". SAM.gov.
- ^ a b Everstine, Brian (7 September 2023). "U.S. Navy Is Steaming Ahead On A New Trainer". Aviation Week. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Newdick, Thomas (11 August 2021). "These Contenders Are Vying To Replace The Navy's T-45 Goshawk With A New Jet Trainer". The War Zone. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "Lockheed Martin, Korea Aerospace Industries & Red 6 Announce Initial Augmented Reality Integration Work for T-50 Platform". Lockheed Martin. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "Leonardo M-346 may have a second chance in United States as new US Navy jet trainer". Blog Before Flight. 30 June 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Manaranche, Martin (4 August 2021). "Sea Air Space 2021: Leonardo Introduces M-346 Jet Trainer For The U.S. Navy". Naval News. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "Sierra Nevada Reveals 'Freedom Aircraft' Prototype". Aviation Week. 22 September 2017. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "SNC". ADM Works. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (21 August 2025). "SNC's Freedom Jet Enters Race To Replace Navy's T-45 Goshawk Trainer". The War Zone. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (22 August 2025). "Everything We Just Learned About SNC's Freedom Jet Trainer Aiming To Replace Navy T-45s". The War Zone. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "Stavatti Responds to USN Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) RFI". Stavatti Aerospace. 13 July 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "Stavatti Submits SM-31T Stiletto in Response to USN UJTS RFI". Stavatti Aerospace. 17 February 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "Stavatti Submits SM-31T Stiletto as a Solution to USN UJTS RFI 24-0015/UJTS". Stavatti Aerospace. 26 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ "Stavatti Submits SM-31T Stiletto in Response to RFI 25-0001/UJTS". Stavatti Aerospace. 30 April 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025.
- ^ Finnerty, Ryan (4 May 2025). "Obscure start-up wants to compete for the US Navy's new trainer jet". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 23 August 2025.