Boeing T-7A Red Hawk production begins as US Air Force retires T-1A Jayhawk
July 30, 2025
The US Air Force has had a troubled journey to a new trainer aircraft. But now, as the final T-1A Jayhawks are withdrawn from service, Boeing has begun assembling the first batch of T-7A Red Hawks, a long-awaited, digital-native replacement that promises to transform pilot instruction for a new generation.
USAF retires the T-1A Jayhawk
The T-1A Jayhawk, a modified Beechjet 400A, entered service in the early 1990s to train pilots destined for airlift and tanker aircraft such as the C-17 Globemaster III, KC-135 Stratotanker, and C-130 Hercules. It also supported navigator training across the US Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.
But more than three decades later, its time is up. This week, another T-1A Jayhawk headed for the boneyard, flying from Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola on 28 July to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. There, it will be cannibalised for parts to keep other aircraft flying.
A total of 128 aircraft had already been retired by the end of 2024, and the remaining 49 will be fully phased out by the close of fiscal year 2026.
The early exit of the T-1A was driven by mounting maintenance costs, the need to avoid expensive engine overhauls, and a shift in training philosophy.
In a report to FlightGlobal, an Air Education and Training Command (AETC) spokesperson said the money saved by divesting the fleet would be used to fund “modernised training platforms, such as the T-7A Red Hawk”.
The T-7A is more than three years behind schedule and has faced numerous issues along the way. Now, it seems, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Boeing begins production of T-7A Red Hawk
Developed by Boeing and Saab, the T-7A Red Hawk is set to replace the T-1A Jayhawk, a plane that has trained fighter and bomber pilots since the 1960s but is now plagued by ageing engines and rising accident rates.
Under a $9.2 billion contract awarded in 2018, the Air Force plans to buy 351 T-7A aircraft, supported by 46 ground-based training systems and a full digital ecosystem. But after a series of delays linked to software integration, ejection seat concerns, and supply chain disruptions, the program has only recently regained momentum.
Via a post on social media, Boeing showed the first production forward fuselage being loaded onto a jig in St. Louis.
According to Aviation Week, Boeing has secured a USAF contract to deliver four Production Representative Test Vehicles (PRTVs), and that production assembly for these jets would begin later this summer.
Initial operational capability (IOC) was originally expected in 2024 but has since slipped to FY2028 due to technical issues and evolving requirements.
To preserve the revised IOC date, the Air Force adjusted its procurement strategy: in FY2025, rather than purchasing seven aircraft as originally planned, the service opted to fund four PRTVs using research and development dollars.
This approach allows the AETC to begin validating training curricula and instructor protocols in parallel with final aircraft development — an effort to avoid further slippage.
The Boeing T-7A Red Hawk: The next generation trainer
Powered by a General Electric F404 engine, the single-engine T-7A is equipped with fly-by-wire controls, stadium seating for instructor oversight, and a glass cockpit designed to mirror operational jets like the F-22 and F-35.
But the Red Hawk is more than an aircraft. It forms the core of an Advanced Pilot Training System (APTS) that includes high-fidelity ground-based simulators, integrated management tools, and live-virtual-constructive (LVC) training capabilities.
Embedded virtual environments will allow instructors to replicate threats and switch scenarios mid-mission, critical for preparing pilots for 5th and 6th-generation aircraft.
The aircraft’s name honours the Tuskegee Airmen, the pioneering African American pilots of World War II who flew red-tailed P-51 Mustangs in combat. The T-7A carries their legacy forward while embracing 21st-century technologies.
So far, five engineering, manufacturing, and development (EMD) jets have been delivered, along with two contractor-owned aircraft that have completed more than 500 test flights.
Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson, commander of AETC, became the first non-test pilot to fly the T-7A in April 2025. He described the aircraft as “smooth, stable, and a true pleasure to fly,” adding that it would help prepare future aviators for “the challenges of modern operational cockpits.”
The T-7A’s digital backbone enables rapid updates and system adaptability, making it well-suited to evolve alongside the Air Force’s operational fleet. Export opportunities and potential variants for adversary air and light attack roles are also under discussion.
