Hawker Beechcraft will deliver its first two T-6C+ trainers to the Mexican air force early this year, with the US manufacturer having confirmed the sale of an initial six of the type.
Selected to replace Mexico's current Pilatus PC-7s, the T-6C features hard points beneath its wing, which will enable operators to carry external fuel tanks or practice weapons to support their training activities.
With initial reports having suggested that Mexico could seek to acquire 10 T-6Cs, Hawker Beechcraft Defense president Jim Maslowski noted: "We see this sale of six aircraft as just the beginning of a long and productive relationship with the Mexican air force." Thirty PC-7 trainers are currently in use with the service, along with 37 more configured for light-attack duties, as listed in Flightglobal's MiliCAS database.
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Deliveries will commence soon, with the first batch of two aircraft to touch down at an undisclosed training base in northern Mexico.
Confirmation of the Mexican order represents the first sale of the T-6 to a Latin American operator. Its also comes as Hawker Beechcraft fights to overturn a decision by the US Air Force to reject its armed AT-6 variant in favour of buying Embraer's EMB-314 Super Tucano for a 20-unit deal to equip the Afghan air force.
Source: Flight International
