Northrop Grumman T-X revealed!

[+Coupi 4,388]

Hello,

 

Northrop T-X prototype revealed...

 

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/northrop-t-x-prototype-revealed-on-mojave-runway-428674/

 

 

Edited August 21, 2016 by Coupi

[Stratos 3,192]

I think is an updated T-38, at least in basic appeareance. Tought they already selected the M-346, but it seems I was wrong, also heard that the Scorpion was selected as the A-10 replacement.

[+Gepard 11,303]

Is this a true prototype or a mock up?

[fallenphoenix1986 603]

My money is on the T-50, the M-346 doesn't have the performance to meet the requirements, this bird looks to be fairly early in development, the Boeing/Saab design is still unknown so hard to say on that one I guess. Of all the above though the T-50 is the only one with a proven track record, adequate performance and ready to enter production at a moments notice.

Edited August 21, 2016 by fallenphoenix1986

[JediMaster 451]

There's heat haze on the back of that thing, it's certainly not a mock up.

 

It's single engine, unlike the T-38/F-5.

 

Remember that the T-38 is still in use because it's been "good enough." It's getting really old, though, and its cockpits and systems are no longer representative of a current line fighter.

NG took the reasonable view that what was needed was a plane like a T-38 that had a current cockpit and systems. Why fix what's not broken?

 

I'm not sure how the competition is structured, bonus points for this or that, but I'd say this appears to be a conservative bet.

 

 

 

As for an A/XX replacing the A-10, there's not even a RFI yet let alone a formal RFP or program, The Scorpion is another in the long history of company-funded planes. Whether it would fit or could be adapted to fit an A/XX program remains to be seen.