Page 20 - March 2023

Beechcraft King Air 260 Chosen as New U.S. Navy Multi-Engine
T Training System (METS)
extron Aviation recently announced it has been awarded the Multi-Engine Training System (METS) contract by Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) through a full and open competition.
The contract award is for up to 64 special mission King Air 260 aircraft, which will be known as the T-54A. The initial Lot I award will procure 10 new Beechcraft King Air 260 commercial aircraft and associated support. Lot II and Lot III, if the options are exercised, would each procure up to 27 aircraft. Aircraft deliveries are planned from 2024 to 2026.
The King Air 260 aircraft acquired under the METS contract will replace the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA) fleet of T-44C Pegasus aircraft. The T-44C
18 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
Pegasus is a variant of the twin-engine and pressurized Beechcraft King Air 90 and has been in service since 1977.
The company says METS will provide an intermediate and advanced training platform for U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Coast Guard aviators into the P-8, EP-3, KC-130, E-6, E-2, CMV-22, CV-22 and MV-22 aircraft.
METS specific capabilities include factory options for TACAN (Air to Air), angle of attack (AOA), V/UHF
MARCH 2023