The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 12 Textron Aviation Beechcraft T-6C Texan II trainers to Tunisia at an estimated cost of $234 million, including related spares, ground support equipment, and support. Implementation of the sale would require nine U.S. government personnel and one contractor representative to be sent to Tunisia. The prime contractor will be Textron Aviation Defense of Wichita, Kansas. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of the possible sale on October 10.
The DSCA said that the proposed sale is intended to provide a replacement for “Tunisia’s aging trainer fleet” and to allow Tunisia to continue to train pilots for counter-terrorism and border security missions. For the U.S., the potential sale is expected to further strengthen the bilateral relationship with Tunisia and to provide additional opportunities for bilateral engagements. The acquisition is intended to improve the defensive capabilities and capacity of what the U.S. views as a major non-NATO ally and an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa.
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