The Model 3000/T-6 is a low-wing, cantilever monoplane with enclosed tandem seating. It is powered by a single Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-68 turboprop engine in tractor configuration with an aluminum, Template:Convert, four-blade, constant-speed, variable pitch, nonreversing, feathering propeller assembly and has retractable tricycle landing gear. The aircraft is fitted with Martin-Baker Mark 16 ejection seats and a canopy-fracturing system.
On 9 April 2007, the U.S. Department of Defense released its Selected Acquisition Reports, which aannounced that the T-6 JPATS program was one of only eight programs cited for congressional notification for 25–50% cost overrun over initial estimates, which is referred to as a "Nunn-McCurdy Breach" after the Nunn-McCurdy Amendment. Not often does a program so far into full-rate production experience significant enough cost overruns to trigger this congressional notification.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
Incidents
May 13, 2024: A U.S. Air Force flight instructor died after sustaining critical injuries when the ejection seat in his T-6 Texan II activated while the aircraft was on the ground.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The investigation concluded that the mishap occurred due to the instructor accidentally pulling the ejection handle while not being strapped to the parachute. This resulted in the instructor falling headfirst from a height of Template:Cvt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
July 27, 2022: The U.S. military grounded hundreds of T-6 Texan IIs after concerns about a potential defect in the cartridge actuated devices used to initiate the plane's ejection seats.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
October 23, 2020: Navy LT Rhiannon Ross and Coast Guard ENS Morgan Garrett died on impact when they crashed their T-6 in a residential area near Foley, Alabama. Causes for the accident were unclear.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
September 18, 2018: A T-6 Texan crashed on landing due to an incorrectly assembled engine. Both pilots were able to eject safely.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The T-6A was introduced to Moody Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base in 2000–2001, and the Air Force awarded the full-rate T-6 production contract in December 2001. Laughlin Air Force Base began flying the T-6 in 2003, where it became the primary basic trainer, replacing the T-37. Vance Air Force Base completed transitioning from the T-37 to the T-6 in 2006. That year, Columbus Air Force Base began its transition, and retired its last T-37 in April 2008. The last active USAF T-37Bs were retired at Sheppard Air Force Base in the summer of 2009.<ref name="Sheppard">Template:Cite web</ref>
The Texan failed to qualify for the Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance program, because the USAF mailed the exclusion notice to the wrong address, leaving the company with no time to protest the decision,<ref>Trimble, Stephen. "Mail mix-up makes Hawker Beechcraft miss protest deadline for USAF contract; appeal filed in federal court."Template:WebarchiveFlight Global, 27 December 2011.</ref> but the official mail failure gave Hawker-Beechcraft a further legal justification, as they had told the USAF they planned to file a legal challenge even before the official notice had been mailed and brought its considerable political influence to bear against the USAF decision against their candidate, with one Kansas Congressman stating, "It is simply wrong for the Obama administration to hire a Brazilian company to handle national security when we have a qualified and competent American company that can do the job."<ref>"Smaller US Air Force Programs – The Dead and the Dying" Air International, February 2012, p. 12, ISSN 0306-5634</ref> In 2013, Beechcraft again lost the bid.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In August 2017, the Air Force conducted the "Light Attack Experiment" to evaluate potential light-attack aircraft. Following this, it decided to continue experimenting with two nondevelopmental aircraft, the AT-6 Wolverine derivative of the T-6 Texan II and the Sierra Nevada/Embraer A-29 Super Tucano. Tests were scheduled to be conducted at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, between May and July 2018. The tests were intended "to experiment with maintenance, data networking, and sensors...[to] gather the data needed for a rapid procurement", according to Secretary of the Air ForceHeather Wilson. Experimentation was to examine logistics requirements, weapons and sensor issues, and future interoperability with partner forces.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During the last week of January 2018, a cluster of unexplained physiological events involving the T-6 occurred at Columbus, Vance, and Sheppard Air Force Bases. In response, the commander of Nineteenth Air Force, which is responsible for USAF pilot training, directed an "operational pause" in Texan II operations on 1 February 2018 to ensure aircrew safety. The pause was intended to enable the Air Force to "examine the root causes of the incidents, educate and listen to aircrew, [and] develop and deliver mitigation solutions." The Air Force had established a general officer-led team to integrate and co-ordinate efforts across the Air Force to address aircrew's unexplained physiological events earlier in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In February 2018, the AT-6 Wolverine and the A-29 Super Tucano were named as the only two remaining aircraft in USAF's Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance aircraft competition.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref>
The CT-156 Harvard II is a variant used for pilot instruction in the NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC),<ref name="Bombardier">Template:Cite web</ref> located at 15 Wing, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.<ref name="CF">Template:Cite web</ref> They are leased to the Royal Canadian Air Force by the program's administrator, CAE. NFTC's Harvard II aircraft are almost identical in cockpit layout and performance to the American JPATS Texan IIs. Within NFTC, students fly the Harvard II in phases 2 and 3 of the training program, and some were to go on to fly the CT-155 Hawk jet trainer also used by NFTC for phase 4 (Moose Jaw) and phase 5 fighter lead-in training (4 Wing, Cold Lake, Alberta). NFTC had 25 Harvard II aircraft owned and maintained by Bombardier, although one was lost following a nonfatal crash in 2014, and another in 2017.<ref name="CF156specs">Template:Cite web</ref> CAE took over the program in 2015.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 16 December 2009, the first four of 15 T-6A aircraft were delivered to Tikrit, Iraq, under a $210 million contract. No AT-6 aircraft were included as was previously reported.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The last four T-6As reached Iraq on 9 November 2010.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
On 13 May 2014, the US State Department approved an order for 24 T-6C aircraft for use as trainers by the Iraqi Air Force. The sale was worth US$790 million and was part of a larger $1 billion deal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 9 January 2012, Mexico purchased six T-6C+ aircraft for the Mexican Air Force to begin replacing their Pilatus PC-7 trainers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 24 October 2013, Hawker Beechcraft announced a follow-on order of an additional six T-6C+ aircraft for the Mexican Air Force, bringing the total ordered to 12.<ref name="Defenseindustrydaily.com">Template:Cite web</ref> The Mexican Navy also ordered two T-6C+ trainers in March 2014.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The New Zealand government announced the purchase of 11 T-6Cs for the Royal New Zealand Air Force for NZ$154 million, on 27 January 2014, to replace the PAC CT/4 Airtrainer, with all aircraft delivered by February 2015. The first training course using the type began early 2016.<ref name="New Zealand signs">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="NZ New pilot training capability">Template:Cite web</ref> The T-6Cs are expected to remain in service with the RNZAF for 30 years.<ref name="NZ New pilot training capability"/>
United Kingdom
On 24 October 2014, the UK Ministry of Defence announced its preferred bidder for the UK Military Flying Training System programme. Ascent's system will involve T-6C Texan IIs in the basic trainer role for both Royal Air Force and Royal Navy pilots.<ref name=RAF>Template:Cite journal</ref>Template:Full citation needed The contract for ten aircraft was signed by Affinity Flying Training Services and Beechcraft Defense on 4 February 2016. The T-6C trainers have replaced Short Tucano T1 aircraft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Argentina
In October 2017, the Argentine Air Force received the first four of 12 T-6C+ aircraft purchased from Textron Aviation<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and a further two in June 2018.<ref name="janes.com">Template:Cite web</ref>
Tunisia
In October 2019, U.S. State Department approved the possible foreign military sale of 12 T-6Cs to Tunisia at an estimated cost of $234 million (~$Template:Format price in Template:Inflation/year), including related spares, ground support equipment, and support. The sale is intended to provide replacement for the aging trainer fleet of Tunisian Air Force and to train pilots for counterterrorism and border-security missions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Japan
In December 2024, the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force announced it had selected the T-6 to replace its aging Fuji T-7 trainer aircraft.<ref name="Japan Selects T-6">Template:Cite news</ref> In January 2025, Textron released a statement confirming the sale.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Initially, the T-6C variant reportedly was chosen, but the order was actually for the T-6JP, an export version specifically for Japan.<ref name="JASDF Vendors">Template:Cite news</ref> The number of aircraft ordered has not been revealed, but is speculated to be fewer than 49.<ref name="Japan Selects T-6"></ref> The deal also includes ground-based training systems, training for airmen, and long-term support for operations.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Armed version of the T-6A for the HAF (20). T-6A NTA has the capability to carry rocket pods, gun pods, external fuel tanks, and bombs. NTA stands for New Trainer Aircraft.<ref name="Bertorelli">Template:Cite web</ref>
Production armed version of the T-6 for primary weapons training or light attack roles.<ref name="TextronNov21"/>
T-6TH Texan II
Version of the T-6C for the Royal Thai Air Force.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="TextronSept2020" /><ref name="TextronNov21-2" /> Locally designated B.F.22 (Template:Langx).<ref name=":1" />
Version of the T-6A for NFTC with the Canadian Forces.<ref name="CF"/> Nearly identical to standard USAF and USN in terms of avionics, cockpit layout, and performance.
Mexican Air Force 6 T-6C+ delivered in 2012.<ref name="Defenseindustrydaily.com"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A follow-on order for 6 more planes was made, due for delivery in late 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Royal Thai Air Force - $162 million order placed in 2020 for 12 designated the T-6TH.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="TextronSept2020">Template:Cite press release</ref><ref name="TextronNov21-2"/> Delivery scheduled for late 2022 and early 2023.<ref name="TextronNov21-2">Template:Cite press release</ref> $143 million order placed in 2021 for 8 AT-6 Wolverines designated AT-6TH to be delivered from 2024.<ref name="TextronNov21"/>
Vietnam People's Air Force (Air Force Officer's College)- All 12 T-6C aircraft have arrived in Vietnam, with the last batch of three landing at Tan Son Nhat Airport on September 22nd, 2025. They will be transferred to the 920th Air Force Regiment.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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