USA – The United States Air Force has ordered the first 14 production Boeing T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer aircraft for approximately USD 219 million, following the Milestone C production decision on 23 April 2026, marking a critical step in the replacement of the six-decade-old T-38C Talon fleet used to train fighter and bomber pilots.

The order includes digitally designed advanced pilot training systems along with associated spares, support equipment, and training. The 14 aircraft will be assigned to the 99th Flying Training Squadron — known as the "Red Tails" — and are to be delivered no later than November 2027.
The T-7A Red Hawk is designed to prepare pilots and weapon systems officers for 4th, 5th, and future 6th generation fighter and bomber aircraft, replacing the T-38C as the US Air Force's primary advanced trainer. The aircraft was developed jointly by Boeing and Swedish partner Saab.
The full program of record calls for 351 T-7A aircraft and 46 ground-based training simulators to be delivered to five Air Education and Training Command (AETC) bases over the next decade.
The first pre-production engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) T-7A Red Hawk arrived at Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph, Texas, on 5 December 2025.
The Air Force plans to approve at least the next three production lots on an individual basis to manage concurrency risk by incorporating insights from ongoing developmental testing. Production is expected to ramp to 40–60 aircraft per year by 2033, with final procurement around 2035–36.
Planned delivery timeline across AETC bases: Columbus AFB in Fiscal Year 2027, Laughlin AFB in Fiscal Year 2032, Vance AFB in Fiscal Year 2034, and Sheppard AFB in Fiscal Year 2035.

Source: AETC

US Air Force Orders First Production Lot of Next-Generation Advanced Pilot Training Aircraft for USD 219 Million

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