The US Navy’s T-54A Marlin II has achieved initial operational capability (IOC) for training programs across the force.
The T-54A replaces the T-44C Pegasus training fleet, which had been employed since the 1970s and is now being decommissioned from service.
Among the new plane’s modern capabilities are up-to-date navigational solutions and avionics, as well as a pressurized cockpit with side-by-side seating and a jump seat.
Additionally, the plane incorporates data-capture technology dedicated to condition-based sustainment, supporting accurate system health monitoring and cost-effective upkeep.
Currently, the US Navy has 15 T-54As in its inventory and is expected to acquire 64 more aircraft.
The deal to support the initiative was awarded to American defense contractor Textron in 2023. The company then signed an additional order in 2024, with deliveries scheduled until 2026.
“Achieving IOC reflects our commitment to provide student naval aviators with the most realistic, effective training aircraft to equip them for today’s complex battlespace,” Naval Undergraduate Flight Training Systems Program Office Manager, Capt. Duane Whitmer, said.
“We know what’s at stake for our nation’s sons and daughters. The T-54 team’s tireless dedication and hard work are making an impact on the next generation of pilots.”
The T-54A Marlin II Aircraft
The T-54A is modeled after Textron’s Beechcraft King Air 260 utility aircraft and is expected to meet training requirements for the US joint force and allies through 2055.
It has a 43-foot (13-meter) long airframe and a wingspan of 57 feet (17 meters).
The plane is equipped with two Pratt & Whitney PT6A-52 engines with 550 horsepower each.
It has an operational range of 1,640 nautical miles (1,887 miles/3,037 kilometers), a speed of 259 knots (298 miles/480 kilometers per hour), and can reach an altitude of 35,000 feet (10,668 meters).
