Textron Aviation Defence has been awarded a Foreign Military Sales contract modification for procurement of eight T-6C aircraft for the Tunisian Air Force. The $90,686,042 deal was awarded on June 30 by the US Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
In addition to the aircraft, it also covers spare parts, spare engines, aircraft support equipment, FSR support, Ground Based Training System (GBTS), Operational Flight Trainer (OFT), Computer Based Training Lab (CBT), interim contractor support, personal life support equipment, country specific technical orders, installation of GBTS, OFT and CBT, plus ferry and support. Work is expected to be completed by September 30, 2026. The T-6C fleet have an expectancy to replace the ageing fleet of L-59s that Tunisia currently operate. Tunisia utilizes the L-59 for training and combat air patrol missions.
US State Department approval had been granted on October 10, 2019, for the sale of 12 T-6Cs to Tunisia, following which the Tunisian Minister of Defence had announced on November 19, 2020, that Government approval had been given for eight of these aircraft. They will replace Tunisia’s ageing trainer fleet. Additionally, on February 26, 2020, the US State Department approved the sale of four AT-6C Wolverine light attack aircraft to Tunisia. As yet, no contract has been announced for these aircraft.
