Boeing announced Monday it plans to build the T-X trainer in St. Louis, Mo., if awarded the contract for the Air Force’s next-generation trainer. The production facility would be expected to bring about 1,800 new jobs to the area, according to a press release. Lockheed Martin and Leonardo are also competing to produce the T-X. Leonardo plans to build the T-X in Moton Field, Ala., and Lockheed would locate production in Greenville, S.C. Lockheed is also planning to move its F-16 work from Greenville to Fort Worth, Texas, to make more room for F-35 production there. Responses to the T-X request for proposals were due in March, but teams can still submit flight test data into June. Boeing recently completed an initial flight with its second T-X aircraft. Lockheed has been flying two of its T-50A entrants since February, and Leonardo has been flying two T-100s for a few years. The Air Force plans to buy 350 T-X trainers with a contract value of up to $16 billion and an initial operational capability planned for 2024. The contract award is expected by the end of the year.
Note: This entry was updated on May 16, 2017. An earlier version incorrectly identified where Leonardo planned to build the T-X if awarded the contract.