Tunisia will receive T-6 trainers from October next year

Originally designed as a derivative of the Swiss Pilatus PC-9 turboprop trainer the T-6 was originally developed to meet the US Air Force and US Navy Joint Primary Aircraft Training System requirement.

The latest T-6C variant, with its integrated glass cockpit, advanced avionics suite, Head-Up Display, Up Front Control Panel, Multifunction Displays and Hands-On Throttle and Stick (HOTAS) controls will better emulate the systems and characteristics of modern frontline aircraft. It promises to revolutionise Tunisian pilot training, and will replace both the SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 for elementary/basic training, and the Aero L-39s that are now used in the advanced training role. It has underwing hardpoints, but these are principally intended to be used for the carriage of auxiliary fuel tanks.

The sale of up to 12 T-6C aircraft to the Tunisian Air Force was approved by the US State Department in October 2019, at an estimated cost of US $234 million. Late in 2020 the Tunisian defence ministry announced that it would be acquiring eight T-6C Texan II trainers and four AT-6C (now redesignated AT-6E) Wolverine light attack aircraft. The $325 million sale of the four Wolverines was approved on 25 February 2020. Both the T-6C and AT-6 share an 85% commonality in structure, avionics, and other systems. On 11 June 2021 the US Department of Defence announced that Textron Aviation Defence had been awarded a $12 million contract for long lead items and for an in-country basing survey for the eight T-6 II trainers ordered by the Tunisian Air Force.

Morocco is the only other African nation that flies the T-6C, having taken delivery of 24 aircraft from 2011.

There have been reports that Tunisia wants to use American funds to acquire F-16 fighters to replace its ageing Northrop F-5E aircraft and that President Kaïs Saïed will negotiate terms for the purchase with the new Biden administration.