T-45 SLAP

The T-45 Service Life Assessment Program (SLAP) is assessing the structural and subsystem conditions of the T-45 fleet in order to determine what modifications are necessary to extend the aircraft designed life limits to allow it to achieve Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) inventory requirements. The goal of the T-45 SLAP program is to identify critical structures and components that can extend the aircraft designed service life to support IPP and Naval Flight Officer Training Requirements (NTR) until 2035. This initial subsystem assessment, based on the updated fleet aircraft usage spectrum and future predicted training missions of the T-45 aircraft, found 79 dispositions requiring further analysis, teardowns, age explorations, recertification and/or testing. The assessment of the subsystems that make up these 79 dispositions will address all critical subsystems required and their ability to maintain IPP/NTR until 2035, analysis and studies will be conducted to outline improvements, assess manufacturing capabilities, prototype redesign and test of subsystems for trainer aircraft. The current life limits for the T-45 is 13,000 Flight Hours (FH). The T-45 SLAP program of record states the SLAP goals is 19,800 FH. This effort is required to be conducted for these subsystems to ascertain what actions and modifications must be taken to safely operate each system beyond its designed life until the targeted end of service life.