Seven years of hard work and team spirit within the T-7A collaboration
In December 2013 Boeing and Saab AB signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) to jointly develop and build a new advanced, cost-efficient T-X Family of Systems training solution for the upcoming competition to replace the U.S. Air Force’s aging T-38C Talon aircrew training system. The JDA, with Boeing and Saab AB as teammates, covers areas including design, development, production, support, sales and marketing.
The T-7A went from concept to first flight in three years as a result of a “breaking the norm” paradigm that includes a modular design of the aircraft developed specifically for highly immersive training with downloading capabilities and advanced fighter-like performance.
Quick development
Within a very short time, the impressive collaboration managed to develop and build a new pilot training system in time for the selection by the US Air Force. Already in 2016, Boeing and Saab presented the two first Production Representative Jet (PRJ) aircraft. Two years later, the U.S. Air Force selects Boeing and Saab T-X Trainer and placed an order for 351 aircraft.
In 2019, the U.S. Air Force announced its name for the new T-X advanced pilot training system: the T-7A Red Hawk.
The start of production and installation
On October 18, 2018 Saab was contracted by Boeing to initiate the Saab portion of the jet and in January 2020, Saab started assembly production of its section of the T-7A aircraft. Later this year, the first production unit has successfully gone through all the assembly steps, both from a design perspective and from a build perspective. The aft structure has now entered the final assembly, ready for the installation phase where the wiring and subsystems are installed.
After the Engineering & Manufacturing Development phase for the T-7A aft section in Linkoping, Saab production will be transferred to the new, state-of-the-art Saab Aeronautics Indiana production facility in West Lafayette, Indiana, to ensure U.S.-based production of the U.S. Air Force’s new trainer.
The T-7A Red Hawk is an all-new aircraft designed specifically for the U.S. Air Force training mission. It consists of the aircraft, a ground-based training system and a support solution. The T-7A aircraft has one engine, twin tails, stadium seating and an advanced cockpit with embedded training functionality. The system also offers a maintenance-friendly design for long-term supportability.
Saab is responsible for the development and production of the fully installed aft fuselage section. That includes the rear section of the aircraft, from where the canopy ends to the tail cone, together with the associated subsystems. Wings, fins and rudders excluded.
Milestones
Dec 5 2013: Boeing and Saab Sign Joint Development Agreement on T-X Family of Systems Training Competition
Sept 13, 2016 Boeing and Saab Reveals First Two PRJ Aircraft for U.S Air Force T-X Competition
Dec 20 2016, T-X Completes First Flight
April 24, 2017 Second T-X Aircraft Takes Flight
April 27, 2017 Both T-X aircraft take to the skies, together in flight
Sept. 18, 2017 Saab Offers U.S. Based Production Capability for T-X Trainer Aircraft
Sept 27, 2018 U.S. Air Force Selects Saab and Boeing T-X Trainer
Oct 18, 2018 Saab Receives Order from Boeing for the Advanced Pilot Training Aircraft T-X
Sept. 16, 2019 U.S. Air Force announces the official service name of the aircraft as the T-7A Red Hawk
Oct 24, 2019 T-7A Awarded Aviation Week’s “Game Changer Award”
Jan 10, 2020 Saab started assembly production of its section of the T-7A aircraft
Dec 6, 2020 Saab moves the first production unit from the assembly into final installation.