The Boeing T-7A Red Hawk is a next-generation, supersonic advanced jet trainer aircraft jointly developed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security (United States) and Saab AB (Sweden). Designed under the United States Air Force’s T-X program, the T-7A was selected to replace the aging Northrop T-38 Talon, and to serve as the primary fast-jet trainer for pilots transitioning to aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. Featuring digital engineering, open-system architecture, and embedded simulation capabilities, the T-7A is engineered to support modern multi-domain training requirements.
Country users: United States
Technical Data
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Armament
The T-7A Red Hawk is delivered in its baseline configuration as an unarmed aircraft, strictly intended for advanced pilot training. However, the design includes provisions for weaponization in future variants. The airframe is structurally reinforced to accept underwing hardpoints, enabling the integration of external stores such as short-range air-to-air missiles (e.g., AIM-9 Sidewinder), guided bombs (e.g., GBU-12 Paveway II), or gun pods for light-attack or aggressor-training missions.
The T-7A Red Hawk can be modified to support live ordnance for air-to-ground or air-to-air roles, depending on customer requirements. Boeing has presented conceptual configurations that include up to four external stations, compatible with both NATO and non-NATO standard munitions. This latent capability makes the T-7A a viable candidate for multi-role variants in foreign military sales, particularly for air forces seeking dual-use training and strike platforms.
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Design and protection
The hull of the AMX-10P is made of all-welded aluminum armor with the driver's compartment at the front of the vehicle on the left, the engine compartment to the right and the troop compartment at the rear of the hull. The front of the vehicle is sloped to provide additional protection against incoming fire. The AMX-10P's armor provides protection against small arms fire and shell fragments, but it is not designed to withstand heavy armor-piercing rounds or other high-caliber weapons. The vehicle has a crew of three, including a driver, a gunner, and a commander, and can carry up to eight fully-equipped soldiers. The eight infantrymen are seated on individual bucket seats in the troop compartment at the rear. One man is seated forward and right of the turret facing the rear, one man to the right of the turret facing the turret, four men to the rear of the turret (two on each side facing outwards), and one man on each side at the rear facing inwards. They enter and leave by the large electrically operated ramp at the rear.
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Engine
The T-7A Red Hawk is powered by a single General Electric F404-GE-103 afterburning turbofan engine, which delivers approximately 78.7 kilonewtons (17,700 pounds-force) of thrust when operating in full afterburner. This engine is a modernized derivative of the proven F404 series, widely recognized for its reliability, high thrust-to-weight ratio, and ease of maintenance. The F404-GE-103 features a full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) system that ensures precise throttle response and optimal performance across a wide range of flight conditions.
The T-7A Red Hawk is capable of achieving maximum speeds in excess of Mach 1.2, equivalent to approximately 1,482 kilometers per hour (921 miles per hour) at altitude. The aircraft has a service ceiling of over 15,240 meters (50,000 feet), allowing student pilots to operate within the same vertical envelope as frontline operational fighters. Its rate of climb exceeds 76 meters per second (15,000 feet per minute), enabling rapid altitude gain for intercept or combat maneuvering profiles.
The airframe is rated for sustained high-g maneuvers up to +8g, enabling comprehensive air combat maneuver training. The aircraft is equipped with a triple-redundant digital fly-by-wire (DFBW) flight control system that ensures precision handling across the entire flight envelope. The control laws are adjustable, allowing the T-7A to simulate the aerodynamic responses of other fighter aircraft, enhancing its capability as a surrogate trainer for fifth-generation aircraft. The aircraft also exhibits superior low-speed handling and angle-of-attack control, making it suitable for formation flying and touch-and-go landings under varied environmental conditions.
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Avionics
The T-7A Red Hawk is equipped with a fully digital avionics suite based on an open-architecture system design. Its cockpit includes three reconfigurable multifunction displays (MFDs), a wide-angle heads-up display (HUD), and full HOTAS integration for both seats. This design mirrors the interface logic of operational fighters, ensuring familiarity for trainee pilots transitioning to advanced combat aircraft.
The T-7A incorporates a fully integrated embedded training system (ETS) that simulates radar, electronic warfare, data link operations, and weapons deployment. The aircraft supports Live-Virtual-Constructive (LVC) training environments, enabling seamless interaction with ground-based simulators and networked synthetic adversaries. Navigation is handled by an inertial navigation system (INS) with embedded GPS, and the aircraft includes secure VHF/UHF communication systems, data-link capability, and electronic threat-emulation software. The crew is protected by Martin-Baker US18E Mk.16L ejection seats rated for zero-zero operation.
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