Raytheon's new 'network-enabled' armed trainer

Since the 1960’s it has been a common practice to offer an armed derivative of trainer aircraft and armed trainers have been popular among the air forces of poor countries. Raytheon’s AT-6 Joint Airborne Weapons System is the latest addition to the long list of armed trainers but data link (Jane’s says it’s Link-16) and sensors like FLIR and laser designator may make it unaffordable to third world air forces. Who would be the most likely launch customer of such a ‘network-enabled’ armed trainer?

http://www.raytheon.com/feature/farn06_T-6B/

AT-6 JOINT AIRBORNE WEAPONS SYSTEM

“By adding sensors, data link, cockpit protection and various weapons configurations to the world’s most affordable, reliable and proven training platform – the Beechcraft T-6 – the Beechcraft AT-6 provides the warfighter with unrivaled capacity for real-world contingencies at a fraction of the cost of other platforms.”

Cheers,
Sunho