A Modern Successor for Air Training
In September 2016, the Boeing corporation in Missouri officially unveiled a new trainer aircraft, which was proposed to the Pentagon for the T-X program competition. This program aims to replace the Northrop T-38 trainer aircraft in the Air Force, whose capabilities no longer fully meet the requirements for training pilots destined to fly fifth-generation fighters.
The aircraft, initially bearing the terse designation T-X, was developed in partnership with the Swedish group Saab AB. Externally, it resembles a kind of single-engine variant of the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The demonstrated first Boeing T-X prototype was equipped with a General Electric F404 series engine, and its maiden flight, designated BTX-1 (N381TX), took place on December 20, 2016, in St. Louis.
Other consortia also participated in the T-X program competition. These included Northrop Grumman in partnership with BAE Systems, L-3 Communications, and Scaled Composites (with their specially developed Northrop Grumman Model 400). Raytheon and Leonardo-Finmeccanica proposed the T-100, based on the M-346, while Lockheed Martin and KAI offered their T-50A.
Innovative Design and Capabilities
According to available information, the T-X aircraft was created from a clean sheet design to maximize its characteristics’ alignment with those of fifth-generation fighters, such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. Furthermore, the T-X’s design incorporates extensive possibilities for future modernization, which can be implemented as new technologies emerge.
A distinctive feature of this new aircraft is its complete readiness for large-scale serial production, almost without undergoing traditional flight test and refinement stages, despite being developed from scratch. This rapid operational readiness was likely achieved by the consortium through the use of modern computer-aided design systems, as well as previous developments in aircraft manufacturing.
Externally, the T-X resembles a blend of the F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter, manufactured by Boeing, and Saab’s JAS-39 Gripen combat aircraft. Like most training fighters, the T-X features sleek forms and a single engine. Its twin tail empennage is inherited from the Saab Gripen, offering a large angle of attack that provides enhanced maneuverability.
Modular elements are utilized throughout the aircraft’s construction wherever possible. This design choice will enable the replacement of components and electronics with more modern systems, ensuring the Boeing T-X fighter remains at the cutting edge of aviation technology throughout its multi-decade service life.
The generously spacious cockpit is literally packed with the latest technologies, with a significant portion of all aviation electronics dedicated to the process of effective flight skill training. Moreover, the capabilities of the training system can be significantly expanded through its integration with specialized ground-based systems.
The T-X is designed to include communication systems, radar warning receivers, multi-functional displays, and equipment capable of simulating radar data. Its onboard equipment must also be able to simulate the use of various weapon types. The airframe must withstand overloads of at least 6.5g for a minimum of 15 seconds in a dive, with fuel at 80 percent of full load, at flight altitudes ranging from three to six thousand meters.
The onboard systems are required to withstand overloads of 7.5g and acceleration growth rates of at least 3g per second. Finally, the aircraft must withstand an instantaneous angular velocity change of 12 degrees per second and a sustained turn rate of nine degrees per second.
The first prototypes of these trainers were presented to the public in September 2016. Boeing is currently in negotiations with the US Air Force and the American Ministry of Defense regarding a contract for the supply of T-X aircraft to the military. If Boeing’s efforts are successful, the T-X fighter could enter service by 2024.
The “Red Hawk” Legacy
On September 16, 2019, US Air Force Secretary Matthew Donovan, speaking at the 2019 Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference in National Harbor, Maryland, announced that the prospective T-X jet trainer, jointly developed by Boeing and Saab and selected to equip the US Air Force, received the official designation T-7A Red Hawk.
According to Donovan, the trainer developed by Boeing and Saab was named in honor of the P-40 Warhawk fighter, one of the most mass-produced aircraft of World War II. Additionally, the aircraft will feature a special livery – a red tail stabilizer – as a tribute to the 99th Fighter Squadron of the “Tuskegee Airmen,” who famously flew P-40s.
Training on the T-7A will occur in two stages: pilots will first undergo testing on a ground simulator, which Boeing will introduce in the fall of 2019, before being able to take the controls of the actual training aircraft. The T-7A is planned to replace the outdated T-38 Talon aircraft in service. According to the contract terms, by 2024, the aerospace consortium is expected to deliver 351 new-generation training aircraft.
Technical Specifications
| Modification | T-7A |
| Wingspan, m | 10.00 |
| Aircraft length, m | 14.15 |
| Aircraft height, m | 4. 00 |
| Empty weight | 3250 |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 5500 |
| Engine type | 1 Turbofan General Electric F404 |
| Maximum thrust | 1 х 49.00 |
| Thrust with afterburner | 1 х 79.00 |
| Maximum speed, km/h | 1300 |
| Practical range, km | 1839 |
| Maximum rate of climb, m/min | 10200 |
| Practical ceiling, m | 15240 |
| Crew | 2 |
Image and diagram gallery of the T-7A Red Hawk
 T-. Photo: Boeing.com |
 T-. Photo: Boeing.com |
 T-. Photo: Boeing.com |
 T-. Photo: Boeing.com |
 T-. Photo: Boeing.com |