# SNC exits Navy T-45 replacement competition, Breaking Defense reports Breaking Defense reports SNC declined to bid under the Navy’s contract structure, leaving Textron’s M-346N as the service’s “one true competitor.” Published 2026-11-04 by TGOs. Canonical: https://tgos.io/news/2026/11/04/snc-exits-navy-t-45-replacement-competition-breaking-defense/ Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) has left the Navy’s Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) competition to replace the T-45 Goshawk, Breaking Defense reported Nov. 3.[1][1] SNC told the outlet it could not responsibly bid under the current contract structure.[1] Breaking Defense says SNC’s exit leaves the Navy with “one true competitor”: Textron Aviation Defense, which confirmed to the outlet that it submitted the M-346N.[1][1] The outlet also reported that Stavatti Aerospace said on Oct. 30 that it submitted a bid.[1] SNC said it remains committed to naval jet training and would be ready to re-engage if the approach is revisited.[1] Breaking Defense’s account does not identify the contract terms SNC objected to.[1] The competitive field had already narrowed: Lockheed Martin announced in April it would not submit the TF-50N with Korea Aerospace Industries, and Boeing announced its departure in June.[1] In September, Breaking Defense reported that Northrop Grumman was dropping off SNC’s bid, which centered on a clean-sheet design called the Freedom.[1] The Navy kept its Oct. 30 proposal deadline, extended from June 30, the program office told the outlet.[1] It now estimates an award between July and the end of September 2027, later than the June 2027 target in its September request for proposals.[1] The service originally planned a March 2027 selection.[1] ## Why it matters Breaking Defense says the M-346N appears to be the de facto winner, barring a reopened competition or surprise entrant.[1] The program office told the outlet that source selection is underway.[1] ## Sources 1. Breaking Defense: EXCLUSIVE: SNC pulls out of Navy’s trainer jet competition