On Friday, 5 December 2025, the first Boeing–Saab T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer aircraft (previously designated eT-7A) arrived at Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph in Texas, marking the beginning of a new era for the United States Air Force (USAF).
Photo: Jakub Link-Lenczowski, MILMAG
The recipient is the 99th Flying Training Squadron “Red Tails” of the USAF 12th Flying Training Wing, subordinate to the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). Deliveries are delayed, as they were originally expected to begin by October 2024, but in March 2023 it was announced that they would occur later, in fiscal year 2025 – the delay being caused by software technical issues discovered during tests of the BTX-1 and BTX-2 prototypes.
“The aircraft delivery is the first physical representation of progress within the program,” said Brig. Gen. Matthew Leard, Director of AETC Plans, Program, Requirements, and International Affairs.
Earlier, five pre-series aircraft had been sent to Edwards Air Force Base for testing (the first was delivered on 21 September 2023). Serial production began in April 2022, while a Military Flight Release (MFR) airworthiness certificate was obtained in June 2023.
The next locations set to receive serial aircraft are: Columbus Air Force Base in Mississippi (from 2027), Laughlin in Texas (from 2032), Vance in Oklahoma (from 2034), and Sheppard in Texas (from 2035). To meet this schedule, Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is planned for August 2027, and 14 aircraft are to be delivered to Joint Base San Antonio–Randolph. Deliveries of 40–60 aircraft per year are expected, increasing toward 2033, with final deliveries occurring around 2035–36.
The T-7A Red Hawk was selected by the USAF in 2018 under the T-X (Trainer-X) program, estimated to be worth up to 9.2 billion USD, under which Saab and Boeing may deliver between 351 and as many as 475 aircraft as replacements for roughly 500 Northrop T-38 Talons in service since 1961, which will remain operational until enough new aircraft are fielded.
The T-7A is 14.15 m long, has a wingspan of 10 m, and a height of 4 m. It is powered by a single GE Aviation F404-GE-402 turbofan engine with 79 kN of afterburning thrust, providing a top speed of 1300 km/h, a range of 1839 km, a climb rate of 170 m/s, and a service ceiling of 15,000 m.
The Red Hawk, in the T-7B variant, is also being offered to the U.S. Navy under the Tactical Surrogate Aircraft program, as well as for export to Australia, Serbia, Japan, Sweden, Brazil, and the United Kingdom, with around 30 countries currently expressing preliminary interest (Boeing estimates global demand at 2,700 aircraft). A lead-in fighter trainer / light attack version is also planned.
Red Hawk over the Alamo!
The first T-7A #RedHawk advanced trainer has arrived at @JBSA_Official in Texas to start training future @USAirForce fighter and bomber pilots. The new advanced trainer brings safe, leading-edge capabilities to the @AETCommand. pic.twitter.com/PgwlburK81
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) December 5, 2025