Saab has received an award from Boeing to produce T-7A Red Hawk aft fuselage systems. The order value for Saab is USD 101.7 million (approximately SEK 1 billion) and the order was booked in the fourth quarter 2023. The T-7A aft fuselage systems will be produced at Saab’s advanced manufacturing facility in West Lafayette, Indiana. The order from Boeing comes after the first two T-7A Red Hawks successfully arrived at U.S. Air Force bases for developmental flight tests. The first T-7A went to Edwards Air Force Base and the second went to Eglin Air Force Base.
The Boeing–Saab T-7 Red Hawk, initially known as the Boeing T-X (later Boeing–Saab T-X), is an American/Swedish supersonic advanced jet trainer produced by Boeing with Saab. In September 2018, the United States Air Force (USAF) picked it for the T-X program to replace the Northrop T-38 Talon as the service’s advanced jet trainer. The T-7’s design allows for future missions to be added, such as the aggressor and light attack/fighter roles. In the training environment, it has been specifically designed for high-G and high angle-of-attack maneuvers and night operations, with an emphasis on being easily maintained. The aircraft is equipped with a single GE F404 turbofan engine, but produces three times the total thrust as the twinjet T-38.
“What we are building is the most modern and forward-looking advanced pilot training system on the market and I am confident that this is a programme that will deliver aircraft for many years to come. This order ensures the ramp-up of serial production to meet both current and future customers’ increased needs,” says Lars Tossman, head of Saab’s Aeronautics business area.
Saab is a leading defence and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 21,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer, more sustainable and more equitable world. Saab designs, manufactures and maintains advanced systems in aeronautics, weapons, command and control, sensors and underwater systems.Saab is headquartered in Sweden. It has major operations all over the world and is part of the domestic defence capability of several nations.
