Northrop Grumman has withdrawn from the industry team led by Sierra Nevada Corporation that is proposing the clean-sheet Freedom aircraft for the US Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System programme. Sierra Nevada Corporation and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems will continue their bid with the Freedom trainer following Northrop’s departure. Northrop joined the team with GA-ASI in February, meaning its withdrawal comes roughly seven months after entering the competition. The company said its decision reflects a move to concentrate resources on opportunities where its established capabilities and investments can have the greatest mission impact, according to a statement cited by Breaking Defense. Search for a New Navy Jet TrainerThe US Navy launched the Undergraduate Jet Training System programme in 2018 to identify a replacement for the carrier-capable T-45 Goshawk, which has been in service since the 1990s. The competition initially involved four major industry teams, but withdrawals have progressively reduced the number of contenders. The Boeing-Saab partnership subsequently exited the competition with its T-7A Red Hawk proposal. The companies cited schedule and qualification risks associated with the programme’s engine configuration requirements. Following the latest change, two teams remain in the competition: the Sierra Nevada Corporation–General Atomics team offering the Freedom aircraft, and the Textron Aviation–Leonardo partnership proposing the Beechcraft M-346N. The US Navy has also moved its planned contract award date. The service now expects to announce its decision on June 30, 2027.
