Page 16 - ADT JULY - AUGUST 2022 Online Magazine

Train the play a vital role as “downloading” flying hours [ AIR SYSTEMS ]

from expensive single and twin-engine fighter
jets to these aircraft can be done at far lower
cost, while still allowing cadet pilots to develop
all the skills necessary to perform in complex
operational and combat scenarios.
Trainer Future Trainer

The newest of the advanced jet trainers to
enter production, is Boeing’s T-7A Red Hawk.
The first out of five engineering and manufac-
turing development (EMD) aircraft rolled off the
production line in April. The first EMD T-7A is
slated to make its maiden flight later this year,
TRAINING OF FIGHTER PILOTS FOR 5TH from Edwards AFB, California, following which
GENERATION FIGHTERS AND BEYOND IS it will commence flight testing. The T-7A is a
joint effort between Boeing and Saab, with the
WITNESSING A REVAMP latter producing the aft (rear) section of the
trainer and the whole aircraft is then joined at
Atul Chandra Boeing’s St. Louis, Missouri site.

Boeing announced in June, that the final aft sec-
As modern militaries induct greater numbers of fifth generation tion for the fifth and last EMD T-7A had arrived
combat aircraft, they are revamping their training systems, many in the USA. Boeing spliced together Saab’s aft
of which are decades old. The result is the emergence of new section with the front section, and these were
advanced jet trainers such as the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk from the joined together in less than 30 minutes. This
USA and the creation of the International Flight Training School will be followed by assembly of the wings, fins,
(IFTS) in Europe. Both these developments have dramatically and tail to build a complete test aircraft for use
advanced the current-state-of-the-art with regards to military flight in the EMD flight test programme. Saab had
training. announced the completion of the fifth and last
fully installed aft fuselage (APT5) of the EMD
These new military trainer aircraft and training establishments will phase to Boeing in May. In addition to supplying
also cater for dramatic changes in combat aviation such as the now five EMD aft fuselages, Saab has also delivered
widespread adoption of fifth generation fighter aircraft and emer- two test fuselages (one for static testing and
gence of sixth generation platforms in the future (with optionally one for fatigue testing) for the T-7A programme.
manned capabilities). New advanced trainer aircraft available today Saab will now transfer production of all future

16 | July/August 2022 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT