Textron Aviation's Beechcraft King Air 260 Multi-Engine Training System (METS) made its international debut at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 (FIA24). The company-owned King Air 260C displayed at FIA24 was employed during the development phase of the METS Program, and then supported the training of U.S. Navy instructor pilots prior to the deliveries of T-54As. Designated T-54A in U.S. Navy service, the METS aircraft is based on the standard King Air 260 that the FAA certified in March 2021.

The U.S. Navy selected the King Air 260/T-54A aircraft to fulfill a requirement to replace the aging King Air 90-based Beechcraft T-44 Pegasus fleet and signed a contract in January 2023. Based at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in Texas, the T-54A fleet will support pilot training for the multi-engine fleets of the Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, including the V-22 Osprey. The King Air 260 is an improved and updated version of the popular King Air 200. The U.S. Navy is going to take delivery of up to 64 T-54As by the middle of 2026. First two aircraft ordered under the $113.1 Million valued initial contract, which covers a total of 10 aircraft, were delivered by Textron Aviation to the U.S. Navy on April 22, 2024 and instructor pilots training has started.