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TRAINERS

© USAF
© USAF

TROUBLED TRAINER

Problems with Boeing’s T-7A Red Hawk trainer delay

its initial operational clearance with the USAF

- By Atul Chandra
oeing’s T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer, which was the first lenge was based on several factors, including
U.S. Air Force aircraft to make use of digital design tools, robust airline hiring which continues to draw
B moved from the computer screen to first flight in a matter of away experienced pilots critical to producing,
36 months. The aircraft, however, is now experiencing delays in the training, and developing new pilots. However, he
physical realm, resulting in deliveries of the aircraft being pushed added that to date the USAF’s pilot production
back by several years. In April, Air and Space Forces Magazine challenges had not increased risk in its combat
reported that the Red Hawk advanced trainer wouldn’t be ready readiness and that while reduced rated staff
for a low-rate initial production decision until February 2025. “The manning would affect individual professional
first production aircraft will not be delivered until December 2025 development, the air force has ensured that it
at the earliest, USAF said. It is not clear how much the delays will has placed experience and talent in the right
push back initial operational capability (IOC), which was originally place to maintain combat-ready forces.
scheduled for 2024 and had more recently been promised for 2026,”
the article stated. Boeing had originally planned to deliver the first Training Troubles
T-7A Red Hawk to the USAF in 2023.
In FY22, the USAF’s undergraduate pilot train-
ing (UPT) programmes produced 1,276 pilots,
In an earlier article, the magazine quoted Air Force acquisition exec-
utive Andrew Hunter stating that the advanced jet trainer would which was 224 pilots short of the target of 1,500
not achieve initial operational capability (IOC) until early 2027. The trained pilots and 104 lesser than the previous
delays in Boeing’s newest advanced trainer jet trainer have been year. The USAF has been beset with mainte-
attributed to issues related to the aircraft’s escape system, which nance and supply challenges on its aging
needs to cater to male and female pilots in different weight ranges. training aircraft, with T-38 engine shortages,
Initial tests showed that pilots in the lower range of the height/ T-6 and T-38 cartridge and propellant-acti-
weight category could encounter serious injury during a seat ejec- vated devices (ejection seats) issues, and low
tion sequence. GS civilian simulator instructor manning, which
have all challenged the USAF’s ability to meet
In a USAF representation to the Armed Services Subcommittee on pilot production quotas, Allvin stated.
Readiness in the United States House Of Representatives in April,
General David W. Allvin USAF Vice Chief of Staff of Staff said the Boeing’s delays are a setback to the USAF
national pilot shortage continues to challenge the Air Force. “In which needs the new T-7A to train more than
FY22, our Total Force crewed pilot numbers decreased by roughly 1000 fighter and bomber pilots per year. The
250, leaving the Total Force 1,900 pilots short of the 21,000 required new aircraft along with its simulators and asso-
to meet global requirements.” He said the persistence of this chal- ciated ground equipment, will replace the Air
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