Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms By Flag By Year By Tag

Boeing-Saab T-7 Red Hawk (T-X)

History

In mid-September 2016, Boeing, in partnership with the Swedish company Saab, announced the challenger to the U.S. Air Force's advanced jet trainer "T-X" competition. The design debuted on September 13 at Boeing's St. Louis, Missouri, plant.

This is a "clean table" design, which means it was developed from the ground up, rather than based on existing, proven aircraft already in service.

Initial Operating Capability (IOC) of the T-X is planned for 2023.

The basic approach is to use a conventionally arranged aircraft with a high wing main plane, two vertical tails and a single engine unit. The engine is a GE F404 series turbofan from General Electric, led by a split air intake duct system. The two crew members sat side by side under a light-frame canopy - with students believed to be at the front and coaches at the back. The cockpit sits behind the sleek prongs, and the overall design exudes aerodynamic efficiency.

The landing gear is a typical tricycle arrangement (retractable of course), with the main legs (single wheels) under the center mass of the aircraft and the front legs (also single wheels) under the cockpit floor. Some parts of the plane are said to have been 3D printed to keep costs down.

Saab is said to be in charge of the center and rear of the new plane.

Boeing/Saab promise high maneuverability and high angle of attack (AoA) from their designs. Logistics friendliness is also emphasized by the F404 engine in the Boeing-Saab T-X, which is already in the U.S. military pipeline as it powers the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet family.

About 350 senior trainers are being sought from service to replace the aging line of Northrop Grumman T-38 Talons. Northrop Grumman, like Lockheed, is a strong contender in the T-X competition. Northrop unveiled its TX product in August 2016, the prototype, also powered by the F404 engine. Boeing recently lost its next-generation bomber built for the US Air Force (which gave Northrop), so getting the T-X contract was a must. Work at the St.

Louis manufacturing plant will also slow as plans to complete fighter jet production associated with the F-15 and F/A-18 production lines.

Two production-quality aircraft are available for evaluation.

The Boeing-Saab T-X values ??shown on this page are the authors' estimates. When the manufacturer announces the official specifications of the aircraft, they will be revised.