The U.S. Air Force has approved Boeing’s T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer for low-rate initial production following a Milestone C decision on April 23.
The approval includes a $219 million contract for the first 14 aircraft, along with spares, support equipment and training. This marks the transition from development to manufacturing for the program, which aims to replace the service’s 60-year-old T-38 Talon fleet.
Initial operational capability is targeted for 2027. The Air Force plans to acquire 351 T-7A aircraft and 46 ground-based training simulators for distribution across five Air Education and Training Command bases.
Production of the first three low-rate lots will require separate approvals, allowing incorporation of results from ongoing developmental testing to manage risks. Five production representative test vehicles are currently in flight testing, with the most recent delivered in December 2024.
The first T-7A training aircraft arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, on December 5, 2025. Earlier delays pushed production from an initial 2025 target to 2026, following adjustments agreed upon with Boeing in January 2025 that added four aircraft to improve manufacturing readiness.
Manufacturing continues at Boeing’s facility in St. Louis, Missouri.