Textron’s Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) has entered into a significant contract to provide Stand-Off Jamming Jets Services training for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. This agreement, valued at up to $200 million, aims to enhance the warfighters’ abilities to simulate airborne threats, ultimately improving their operation and evaluation of shipboard and squadron weapon systems in the face of enemy sensor and communication network interferences.
The training sessions will encompass a variety of crucial lessons, such as identifying and responding to air threats, understanding the complexities of electronic warfare, relaying essential communications, detecting signal intrusions, and monitoring the positions of friendly forces. Instruction for these advanced courses will be delivered by ATAC’s highly experienced flight team, which includes both distinguished US military veterans and skilled civilian specialists.
As part of the contract, ATAC will utilize two specially modified business jets, which are contractor-owned, to facilitate the training program. One of the jets will be stationed on the East Coast while the other will be based on the West Coast, ensuring comprehensive coverage for the training exercises. The orders related to this contract may extend until 2030, indicating a long-term commitment to enhancing the Navy’s and Marine Corps’ electronic warfare capabilities.
Rich Zins, vice president of business operations at ATAC, emphasized the importance of the award, highlighting the company’s 25 years of expertise in adversary air services, which he referred to as “red team” operations. He stated that this training is vital for the Navy as it seeks to effectively counter adversarial threats across the globe, and he underscored ATAC’s unique position to offer specialized training services that will help prepare military personnel for evolving challenges worldwide.
In addition to this recent contract, Textron has been involved in other air training support initiatives. In October, the company announced plans to manufacture its Beechcraft M-346N light aircraft in Kansas, contingent upon winning the US Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System competition. To that end, Textron is set to invest more than $38 million to upgrade a 50,000 square-foot facility at its east Wichita campus.
The M-346N, developed in collaboration with Leonardo, was first proposed for the Navy’s initiative in July 2025, with the aim of replacing the longstanding T-45 Goshawk trainers. Moreover, in August, Textron Systems secured a contract to manage F-16 chase flights for the US Air Force training, worth up to $7.82 million, under the foreign military sales program, with completion expected over a period of 27 months.
These initiatives reflect Textron’s ongoing commitment to supporting the US military through advanced training and operational capabilities, further solidifying its role as a key player in defense support services.
