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PRESS RELEASE
Issued by:

Stavatti Submits SM-47 T-X in response to USAF APT RFP
Thursday, 30 March 2017

Stavatti Aerospace submitted the SM-47 T-X as a candidate solution for the USAF Advanced Pilot Training, Family of Systems Program (T-X). The first of two proposed aircraft to satisfy the T-X requirement, the Stavatti proposal was submitted to PCO David Speed at AFLCMC/AQH before 11 AM eastern time.

The SM-47 T-X is a supersonic, Advanced Pilot Trainer variant of the SM-47 Super Machete family of Multi-Role/Air Defense Fighter aircraft now under development by Stavatti. Tailored specifically for the T-X mission, the SM-47 design was improved beginning in 2014 to ensure that the cockpit accommodates JPATs cases 1-8. Featuring aluminum and titanium foam metal sandwich construction, the SM-47 T-X will be powered by a single GEAE F414 enhanced performance afterburning turbofan. The SM-47 will be the first U.S. production fighter to feature a Forward Swept Wing (FSW), made possible in part by the stiffness associated with titanium foam metal sandwich structures.

A super-maneuverable aircraft, the SM-47 T-X will offer a maximum level speed exceeding Mach 2.2 and a limit load factor at gross weight of 9.0 G. With in-flight refueling capability as a standard feature, the SM-47 T-X may be readily converted to the Air Defense Fighter (ADF) configuration for DACT missions, offering a maximum external warload of 12,000 lbs carried on a total of eight external stores stations.

A member of the Machete family that includes the SM-27 Turboprop and SM-28 Turbofan Close Air Support (CAS) aircraft, the SM-47 is being developed as part of a Stavatti initiative to provide a modular FoS to address future Attack, Fighter, and Trainer needs. The USAF would achieve a significant cost savings by selecting the SM-47 for the T-X role and the SM-27 or SM-28 for the budding OA-X requirement, thus deploying a common modular and affordable solution to a variety of air defense needs.

Offered to the USAF T-X program office at a per unit flyaway cost of $20 Million, Stavatti's total bid for the T-X program including 351 aircraft and 46 Ground Based Training Systems (GBTS) was approximate $8.4 Billion.

Designed domestically by Stavatti, the Machete family will be prototyped and produced in the United States. If selected, the first SM-47 T-X prototype would fly in 2018, with delivery to the USAF in 2019. With five planned EMD aircraft, flight testing certification to MIL-HDBK-516B standards will be achieved by 2022 with Low Rate Initial Production beginning in 2024 followed by Full Rate Production in 2026. Stavatti would produce 48 aircraft per year for the USAF followed by additional SM-47S/T fighter variants annually to meet potential allied export needs.

The Stavatti SM-47 program, in conjunction with the SM-27 and SM-28, will directly employ approximately 2,000 persons for at least two decades. Locations under consideration for Machete series production include Arizona, California, Florida, Ohio, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

Contact details from our directory:
Stavatti Aerospace Ltd Airframer
Related aircraft programs:
Stavatti SM-27/28/47/47 TX Machete