Sierra Nevada Corporation has decided not to bid in the U.S. Navy’s competition to replace its T-45 Goshawk trainers, leaving Textron Aviation Defense’s M-346N as the only known major aircraft still in contention. SNC told Breaking Defense that it could not responsibly bid under the program’s current contract structure but remained prepared to re-enter if the approach changes.
Textron confirmed to Breaking Defense that it submitted an M-346N proposal. The Navy’s UJTS program office said proposals were due October 30 and that the government is in source selection, with an award intended in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2027—between July and the end of September 2027. That is a planned contract decision, not delivery or operational entry.
The procurement is intended to replace the T-45 fleet. The War Zone reports that the Navy’s stated goal is to acquire 216 trainers, compared with just under 200 T-45s currently in inventory, but the service has not confirmed how many bids it ultimately received. The M-346N is therefore the only known major contender, not a confirmed winner. The War Zone also notes that the Navy could still reopen the competition or restructure its replacement plans.
The requirement itself differs from the T-45’s carrier-training role. The Navy does not require the new trainer to conduct carrier landings or full field carrier landing practice to touch down, although the aircraft must support FCLP to wave off and offer unique simulation capabilities for carrier-landing training, according to the Navy information reported by Breaking Defense. That requirement distinction describes the planned UJTS capability; it does not establish that any aircraft has been selected or delivered.