Fuji T-7

The Fuji T-7 (previously T-3 Kai) is a Japanese primary trainer aircraft built by Fuji Heavy Industries for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. A development of Fuji's earlier T-3 trainer, it is a single-engined monoplane powered by a turboprop engine.

Design and development
The Fuji T-7 was developed to meet a requirement of Japan's Air Self Defence Force for a primary or basic trainer to replace the Fuji T-3. The resultant aircraft was a modified version of the T-3, (itself descended via the Fuji KM-2 from the Beech T-34) and shared the single-engined low-winged monoplane layout of the T-3, but replaced the Lycoming piston engine with an Allison 250 turboprop engine.

The T-7 was selected in preference to the Pilatus PC-7 in 1998, but this decision was cancelled and the competition restarted after a corruption scandal arose, with several managers from Fuji being arrested for bribing an official in Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Fuji re-entered the T-7 (then known as the T-3 Kai) and again won the restarted competition in September 2000.

Operational history
The first production aircraft was handed over to the JASDF in September 2002.

Operators

 * Japan Air Self-Defense Force
 * Air Training Command:
 * 11th Flight Training Wing
 * 1st Flight Training Squadron
 * 2nd Flight Training Squadron
 * 12th Flight Training Wing (2005-)
 * 1st Flight Training Squadron (2005-)
 * 2nd Flight Training Squadron (2005-)
 * Air Development and Test Command
 * Air Development and Test Wing
 * Air Development and Test Wing