Production of the Air Force’s new T-7A trainer has been delayed once again. Service officials announced on Wednesday that T-7 production is now slated to begin in 2026. This is almost eight years after Boeing won the original contract aimed at replacing the T-38 trainers, which have been in service for more than 50 years.
To expedite the testing process, the Air Force plans to purchase four “production representative” aircraft. This initiative aims for the service to achieve initial operational capability by the end of 2027 or the first quarter of fiscal 2028, which is several months earlier than previously announced.
Andrew Hunter, the assistant Air Force secretary for acquisition, technology, and logistics, stated that the updates in the acquisition process will include expanding test capacity, allowing the start of the Air Education and Training Command’s (AETC) curriculum development activities, and implementing a management approach that incentivizes Boeing to address emergent issues not covered in the original 2018 contract.
Although the Air Force did not disclose specific monetary incentives for Boeing through these updates, a service official noted that there would be no adjustment to the total funding request of $362 million for the T-7 program in the 2025 budget. The incentives being considered mainly focus on timely production of test vehicles, completion of engineering and manufacturing development, and overall production readiness.
The official start of T-7 production, referred to as Milestone C in acquisition terminology, was initially set for February 2025, which itself was pushed back from an original goal of December 2023. Under the revised strategy, research and development funds from fiscal 2025 will be used to acquire the four test aircraft, expected to be delivered in the following year.
Hunter emphasized that procuring these test vehicles in FY-25 would enhance manufacturing readiness before the full production phase of over 350 T-7As begins. This strategy aims to minimize the overlap between development, testing, and production, thereby reducing the risk of costly retrofits for a large number of aircraft.
The Boeing-Saab T-7 program has faced significant challenges, including issues with the aircraft’s ejection seat and supply chain problems that have led to multiple delays in the in-service date. Boeing has incurred over a billion dollars in losses since choosing to underbid for the fixed-price contract.
In response to these challenges, Steve Parker, interim president of Boeing defense and space, expressed appreciation for the partnership with the U.S. Air Force. He assured a commitment to delivering a safe and advanced training system, highlighting that this innovative approach would provide a production-ready configuration before entering low-rate initial production. He emphasized that this plan would mitigate future production risks and accelerate the delivery of this critical capability according to the Air Force’s timeline.