The T-7A Red Hawk is the Air Force’s developmental next-generation, supersonic advanced jet trainer. The service selected the joint-venture Boeing-SAAB aircraft as the winner of its $9.2 billion “T-X” competition to replace the T-38 on Sept. 20, 2018.
The Air Force dubbed the type “Red Hawk” in honor of the WWII Tuskegee Airmen. The T-7A was rapidly developed in fewer than three years using digital design techniques to quickly field new, low-cost designs.
The aircraft was designed from the outset to replicate the systems and performance of advanced fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft including high-G/high angle of attack performance and a blend of synthetic and onboard systems, including simulated radar, defensive systems, data links, and smart weapons.
It incorporates fly-bywire controls, a fully digital glass cockpit, “stadium seating” to improve backseat visibility, next-gen ACES 5 ejection seats, modular systems architecture, and maintainer-friendly design to cut downtime and lifecycle cost.
T-7A is being developed in tandem with the Ground-Based Training System simulator and courseware to provide AETC with a seamless, comprehensive flight training program. The first of two “production ready” airframes flew from Boeing’s facility at St. Louis on Dec. 21, 2016, launching initial flight-testing with the manufacturer. Boeing delivered the first of five production-representative aircraft to Edwards on Nov. 9, 2023, launching USAF and Boeing developmental flight-testing.
Two aircraft are conducting flight-envelope expansion at Edwards and a third is in extreme weather-testing at Eglin prior to supporting systems testing. Instability at high angles of attack discovered in early trials as well as concerns with ejection seat performance and supply chain issues have delayed testing.
A decision to begin low-rate production was likewise delayed a year to 2025 and initial operational capability was postponed from 2024 to 2028 or later. USAF recently reduced its planned procurement from 351 aircraft to an initial 346 with the first production T-7A slated for delivery to Randolph.
Contractors: Boeing-SAAB, General Electric (engine), Collins Aerospace (cockpit/ejection seats).
First Flight: Dec. 20, 2016 (T-X).
Delivered: 2023 onward (planned).
IOC: 2024 (planned).
Production: 351 (planned).
Inventory: Three (contractor-owned test airframes).
Operator: Boeing, AFMC; Planned: AETC
Aircraft Location: Edwards AFB, Calif. Planned: Columbus AFB, Miss.; Laughlin AFB, JBSA- Randolph, and Sheppard AFB, Texas; Vance AFB, Okla.
Active Variant: •eT-7A. Developmental next-generation advanced trainer.
Dimensions: Span 30.6 ft, length 46.9 ft, height 13.5 ft.
Weight: Max T-O 12,125 lb.
Power Plant: General Electric F404-GE-103 afterburning turbofan, 17,200 lb thrust with afterburning.
Performance: Speed Mach 1+, range approx. 1,140 miles.
Ceiling: 50,000 ft+.
Accommodation: Two pilots on ACES 5 zero/zero ejection seats.