T-7 Red Hawk
Boeing-Saab T-X prototypes.
Role Advanced trainer
National origin United States/Sweden
Manufacturer Boeing / Saab
First flight 20 December 2016
Primary user United States Air Force
Produced 2021–present
Number built 2 prototypes[1]

The Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk,[2] initially known as the Boeing T-X (later Boeing–Saab T-X),[3][4] is an American/Swedish supersonic advanced jet trainer produced by Boeing with Saab. In September 2018, the United States Air Force (USAF) picked it for the T-X program to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon as the service's advanced jet trainer.

Development

The USAF's Air Education and Training Command (AETC) began developing the requirements for a replacement for the supersonic Northrop T-38 Talon as early as 2003. Originally, the replacement trainer was expected to enter service around 2020. A fatigue failure of a T-38C killed its two-person crew in 2008 and the USAF advanced the target date of initial operational capability (IOC) to 2017.[5] In the fiscal 2013 budget proposal, the USAF suggested delaying the initial operating capability to FY2020 with the contract award not expected before FY2016.[6] Shrinking budgets and higher-priority modernization projects pushed the IOC of the T-X program winner to "fiscal year 2023 or 2024". Although the program was left out of the FY 2014 budget entirely, the service still viewed the trainer as a priority.[7]

Boeing teamed up with Swedish aerospace firm Saab to compete for the T-7 program. On 13 September 2016,[8] the team unveiled prototypes of the Boeing T-X, a single-engine advanced jet trainer with a twin tail, tandem seating, and retractable tricycle landing gear, all powered by a General Electric F404 afterburning turbofan engine.[9][10] The first T-X aircraft flew on 20 December 2016.[11][12] The Boeing-Saab team submitted their entry after the Air Force opened the T-7 program to bids in December 2016.[13]

In September 2018, Air Force officials announced that Boeing's design would be its new advanced jet trainer, under an up-to-US$9.2 billion (~$10.6 billion in 2022) program that would purchase 351 aircraft, 46 simulators, maintenance training and support. This contract has options for up to 475 airplanes in total.[14][15][16][17] In 2018, Boeing recorded a $691 (~$797.00 in 2022)-million pre-tax charge during the third quarter, in part because of the T-X program.[18]

A U.S. Air Force publicity image of the T-7A Red Hawk showing Red Tail livery

In May 2019, Saab announced that it would open a U.S. manufacturing facility for the T-X in Indiana with Purdue University.[19][20]

In September 2019, the USAF named the aircraft the "T-7A Red Hawk" as a tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen, who painted their airplanes' tails red, and to the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, an aircraft flown by the 99th Fighter Squadron, the U.S. Army Air Force's first black fighter squadron.[21][22]

The aircraft entered series production in February 2021.[23] In April 2021, Saab Group delivered one aft section of T-7A aircraft to the Boeing St. Louis plant. In July 2021, Saab had delivered the second aft section to the Boeing St. Louis plant. Boeing will splice Saab's aft section with the front section, fins, wings and tail assembly to become a complete test aircraft for use in the EMD's flight test program.[24] On completion of the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) phase, Saab's brand new facility in West Lafayette, Indiana will serve as the manufacturing hub for the T-7A Red Hawk’s aft section and sub-systems such as hydraulics, fuel systems and secondary power.[24]

Saab has developed new software for the T-7 to help provide for cheaper and faster development. The T-7A employed digital engineering that went from development to the first test flight within 36 months.[25] The T-7A has an advanced and digitized production line that takes only 30 minutes to splice the aft section with the wings.[26] The digital build process allows technicians to build the aircraft with minimal tooling and drilling during the assembly process.[27]

The first production T-7 was rolled out on 28 April 2022.[28]

Boeing intends to offer an armed version of the T-7 to replace aging Northrop F-5 and Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet fleets around the world.[29]

In May 2023, the Government Accountability Office released a report on the T-7 program detailing problems with the software and safety systems and other delays that saw the USAF delay a production decision to February 2025. The report said that a schedule provided by Boeing in January 2023 was optimistic and dependent on favorable assumptions. Notwithstanding the delayed production decision, the report noted that Boeing still planned to start producing the first T-7s in early 2024.[30][31]

The first T-7A Red Hawk flies over Edwards Air Force Base in November 2023

In June 2023, the first flight of the T-7A production aircraft was conducted from St. Louis Lambert International Airport, by Major Bryce Turner, a test pilot with the 416th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and Steve Schmidt, Boeing’s chief T-7 test pilot.[32][33]

On 21 September 2023, the first Red Hawk was shipped to the US Air Force.[34]

By November 2023, the USAF was actively considering the possibility of turning the T-7 into an armed combat aircraft. Conceptually dubbed the F-7, such a jet could provide roughly the same capability as a fourth-generation fighter which could maintain force numbers as F-16s are retired, and could replace older Northrop F-5 and Dornier Alpha Jet platforms on the export market.[35] The Red Hawk was deployed at Edwards Air Force Base for testing.[36]

Design

The T-7's design allows for future missions to be added, such as the aggressor and light attack/fighter roles.[37] In the training environment, it has been specifically designed for high-G and high angle-of-attack maneuvers and night operations, with an emphasis on being easily maintained. The aircraft is equipped with a single GE F404 turbofan engine, but produces three times the total thrust as the twinjet T-38.[38]

Operational history

Potential operators

Boeing aims to sell over 2,700 Red Hawks globally. In addition to the USAF, the company is also targeting Serbia and Australia as potential international customers.[29]

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is looking to replace 33 BAE Hawk Mk 127 Lead-in Fighter (LIF) jet trainers, which it first ordered in 1997. Boeing intends to participate in the tender of the RAAF’s LIFT program.[39]

Serbia is looking at the T-7A Red Hawk as one possible replacement for its G-4s and J-22 trainer aircraft.[39]

The T-7B variant is one of the contenders for the United States Navy's Tactical Surrogate Aircraft program, with a possible sale of 64 aircraft.[40][41]

The F/T-7X, a variant of the T-7, is one of the contenders for the USAF's Advanced Tactical Trainer program, with possible sales of 100 to 400 aircraft.[42][43][44]

Boeing has pitched the T-7 to the Brazilian Air Force.[45]

Variants

BTX-1
Two prototypes were constructed for evaluation:[46][47]
  • N381TX, the first prototype built and first T-7 to fly
  • N382TX, the second prototype used in testing
T-7A Red Hawk
Production aircraft for the USAF as the winner of the T-X program to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon.[29] Designated eT-7A prior to delivery, identifying it as a digitally engineered aircraft.[2][48]
T-7B
Variant proposed for the U.S. Navy's Tactical Surrogate Aircraft program, with a possible sale of 64 aircraft.[49][50]
F/T-7X
Variant proposed for the USAF's Advanced Tactical Trainer program, with a possible 100 to 400 aircraft sale.[42][43][51]
F-7
Light combat aircraft variant proposed for the USAF[35][52][53]

Operators

 United States

Specifications (T-7A)

Data from FlightGlobal,[11] General Electric Aerospace Blog,[54] Air & Space Forces Magazine,[55] and Military Factory[56]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2: pilot and instructor/passenger
  • Length: 46 ft 11 in (14.30 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 7 in (9.32 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)
  • Max takeoff weight: 12,125 lb (5,500 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × General Electric F404-GE-103 afterburning turbofan, 11,000 lbf (49 kN) thrust dry, 17,200 lbf (77 kN) with afterburner
  • Maximum speed: 702 kn (808 mph, 1,300 km/h)
  • Maximum speed: Mach 1.05
  • Cruise speed: 526 kn (605 mph, 974 km/h)
  • Range: 990 nmi (1,140 mi, 1,830 km)
  • Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,240 m) +
  • Rate of climb: 33,500 ft/min (170.2 m/s)

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ↑ Trimble, Stephen (24 April 2017). "Boeing/Saab fly second T-X test aircraft". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. 1 2 "T-7A Red Hawk begins U.S. Production". Boeing. 19 February 2021. Archived from the original on 19 April 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021. A new era in aircraft design and assembly has begun as the first U.S. portion of the Boeing-Saab eT-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer officially entered the jet's state-of-the-art production line.
  3. ↑ "The Journey to West Lafayette". Saab. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  4. ↑ "Advanced Pilot Training (T-X) Program". Congressional Research Service. 1 October 2018. Archived from the original on 30 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  5. ↑ Trimble, Stephen (22 June 2010). "US Air Force, industry prepare for T-38 replacement". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 8 January 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  6. ↑ Trimble, Stephen (17 February 2012). "USAF delays T-38 trainer replacement to 2020". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 24 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "Budget constraints delay new trainer", Air force times, 15 May 2013.
  8. ↑ "Boeing T-X Sees the Light". Boeing. Archived from the original on 4 May 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  9. ↑ "Boeing T-X Advanced Pilot Training system" (PDF). Saab. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  10. ↑ "Boeing and Saab Sign Joint Development Agreement on T-X Family of Systems Training Competition". Boeing. Archived from the original on 31 December 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2017.
  11. 1 2 Giangreco, Leigh (20 December 2016). "Boeing and Saab complete first T-X flight". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  12. ↑ Niles, Russ (20 December 2016). "Boeing/Saab T-X First Flight". AVweb. Archived from the original on 24 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  13. ↑ Clark, Colin (1 February 2017). "Boeing Takes T-X Lead as Northrop Joins Raytheon & Drops Out of T-X". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  14. ↑ Insinna, Valerie (27 September 2018). "Air Force awards $9B contract to Boeing for next training jet". Defense News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  15. ↑ "Air Force awards next-generation fighter and bomber trainer". Saab. Archived from the original on 28 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2018.
  16. ↑ O'Connor, Kate (2 October 2018). "Air Force Selects New Combat Trainer". AVweb. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  17. ↑ "Boeing: It's Official: Boeing Wins T-X!". Boeing. Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  18. ↑ Werner, Ben (30 April 2020). "In Role Reversal, Boeing's Defense Programs Prop Up Commercial Business". U.S. Naval Institute. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  19. ↑ "Saab announces new U.S. site for advanced manufacturing and production". Saab. Archived from the original on 9 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  20. ↑ "Saab's global defense and security company lands in Indiana, to open site near Purdue University". Purdue. 8 May 2019. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  21. ↑ "Air Force announces newest Red Tail: 'T-7A Red Hawk'". U.S. Air Force. 16 September 2019. Archived from the original on 18 September 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2019. The name Red Hawk honors the legacy of Tuskegee Airmen and pays homage to their signature red-tailed aircraft from World War II. …The name is also a tribute to the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, an American fighter aircraft that first flew in 1938 and was flown by the 99th Fighter Squadron, the U.S. Army Air Forces' first African American fighter squadron.
  22. ↑ Insinna, Valerie (16 September 2019). "This is the name of the Air Force's new training jet". Defense News. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2019.
  23. ↑ O'Connor, Kate (24 February 2021). "Boeing Begins T-7A Red Hawk Production". AVweb. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 26 February 2021.
  24. 1 2 "Saab delivers aft section of T-7A trainer for testing". Global Defense Corp. 27 July 2021. Archived from the original on 27 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  25. ↑ Rogoway, Tyler (16 September 2019). "The Air Force's New T-X Jet Trainer Now Has an Official Name and Designation". The Drive. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  26. ↑ "The USAF Looking to Adopt Saab Design Methodologies to Arm T-7A Red Hawk or Develop F-36 Kingsnake". Global Defense Corp. 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  27. ↑ "Boeing Started Production of T-7A Red Hawk". Global Defense Corp. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  28. ↑ O'Connor, Kate (28 April 2022). "Boeing Unveils First Air Force T-7A Red Hawk". AVweb. Archived from the original on 29 April 2022. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  29. 1 2 3 Reim, Garrett (14 July 2020). "Boeing sees T-7 as combat replacement for Northrop F-5 and Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  30. ↑ Losey, Stephen (24 May 2023). "GAO blasts T-7 delays, cites 'tenuous' Air Force-Boeing relationship". Defense News. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  31. ↑ "Advanced Pilot Trainer: Program Success Hinges on Better Managing Its Schedule and Providing Oversight". U.S. Government Accountability Office. 18 May 2023. Archived from the original on 18 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  32. ↑ Cohen, Rachel S. (29 June 2023). "T-7 Red Hawk trainer jet takes its first flight". Defense News. Archived from the original on 7 January 2024.
  33. ↑ O'Connor, Kate (30 June 2023). "U.S. Air Force Flies First T-7A Red Hawk". AVweb. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  34. ↑ "USAAF modernizes training fleet with first T-7A Red Hawk". Air Recognition. 25 September 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023.
  35. 1 2 Martin, Tim; Marrow, Michael (8 November 2023). "Air Force weighing turning T-7 into F-7 armed light attack jet: Official". Breaking Defense. Archived from the original on 17 November 2023.
  36. ↑ "Boeing T-7A Red Hawk arrives at Edwards to begin testing". Shephard Media. 10 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023.
  37. ↑ "T-7A Red Hawk". Boeing. Archived from the original on 29 December 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2021.
  38. ↑ Johnson, Kimberly (3 May 2022). "Boeing Unveils First USAF T-7A Red Hawk Trainer". FLYING Magazine. Archived from the original on 9 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  39. 1 2 Trevithick, Joseph (30 July 2020). "Australia, Serbia Emerge As First Potential T-7A Red Hawk Jet Trainer Export Customers". The Drive. Archived from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  40. ↑ Newdick, Thomas (21 October 2021). "Navy Follows Air Force In Wanting Another Jet Trainer Variant For Aggressor And Support Roles". The drive. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  41. ↑ Jennings, Gareth (11 October 2021). "US Navy seeks new 'Aggressor' training aircraft". Jane’s. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021.
  42. 1 2 Tirpak, John A. (14 December 2021). "Lockheed to Offer 'Competitive Pricing' on T-50-Derived Advanced Fighter Trainer". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Archived from the original on 19 November 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  43. 1 2 Insinna, Valerie (27 October 2021). "T-X: The Sequel? New Tactical Trainer Solicitation Could Reignite Rivalries". Breaking defense. Archived from the original on 16 November 2023.
  44. ↑ Newdick, Thomas (15 October 2021). "Air Force Wants Hundreds More Jet Trainers Despite Already Buying T-7 Red Hawks". The Drive. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023.
  45. ↑ "La Fuerza Aérea Brasileña interesada en aeronaves de patrulla P-8 Poseidon y entrenadores T-7 Red Hawk" [The Brazilian Air Force is interested in the P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft and T-7 Red Hawk trainers]. Zona Militar (in Spanish). 23 September 2022. Archived from the original on 5 December 2022.
  46. ↑ "Inquiry Results N381TX". Registry N-Number. FAA.
  47. ↑ "Inquiry Results N382TX". Registry N-Number. FAA.
  48. ↑ Reim, Garrett (15 September 2020). "USAF's digitally engineered aircraft to receive 'e' prefix, starting with Boeing eT-7A". FlightGlobal. Archived from the original on 16 September 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  49. ↑ Newdick, Thomas (21 October 2021). "Navy Follows Air Force In Wanting Another Jet Trainer Variant For Aggressor And Support Roles". The Drive. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  50. ↑ Jennings, Gareth (22 October 2021). "US Navy seeks new 'Aggressor' training aircraft". Jane's. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021.
  51. ↑ Newdick, Thomas (15 October 2021). "Air Force Wants Hundreds More Jet Trainers Despite Already Buying T-7 Red Hawks". The Drive. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023.
  52. ↑ Neumann, Norbert (15 November 2023). "Dubai Airshow 2023: Boeing explores fighter version of T-7". Shephard Media. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  53. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (9 November 2023). "T-7 Arrives At Edwards, USAF Eyeing Light Fighter Version". The Drive. Archived from the original on 4 December 2023. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
  54. ↑ "Popular Choice: The GE F404-powered Boeing T-7A Trainer Named to "Best of What's New" List". General electric. 9 December 2019. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2020.
  55. ↑ "T-7A Red Hawk". Airforce.
  56. ↑ "Boeing-Saab T-7 Red Hawk (eT-7A)". Military Factory. 29 April 2022.
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