WRIGHT PATTERSON AFB, Ohio -- Textron Aviation Defense has been awarded $36.2 million by the U.S. Air Force to support Argentine T-6C+ trainer aircraft. Specifically, Textron will provide maintenance and pilot training for the aircraft at its Wichita, Kansas facility through November 30, 2018.
The award is a contract modification to a previously awarded Foreign Military Sales (FMS) deal signed in April 2017. That deal covered the delivery of four T-6C+ Texan II's to Argentina and was worth $88.2 million. The aircraft were delivered in October 2017.
Argentina initially planned to purchase 24 T-6s but for budgetary reasons, it was agreed to lower the initial requirement to 12, with a plan to purchase a second batch of 12 at a later date. When the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) initially approved the purchase in August 2016, it estimated the total cost of the 24 aircraft at $300 million, a substantial cost for Argentina as it tries to reduce government spending.
When the contract for the aircraft was finally signed in April 2017, it only covered four aircraft. It is not clear if Argentina will acquire additional aircraft at a later date to bring the total closer to the desired 24 aircraft. However, considering the country's current economic situation, that is unlikely.
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