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Boeing has confirmed that the next-generation T-7A Red Hawk lead-in fighter trainer has achieved three recent milestones, propelling the advanced pilot trainer for the US Air Force forward.
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As part of the lead-up to low-rate initial production (LRIP) of the T-7A, Boeing put the Red Hawk through its paces across a number of tests designed to assure the survivability and performance of the aircraft.
The first round of testing included extensive climate chamber testing conducted at a specialised facility at Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base, which saw the aircraft endure temperatures ranging from minus 31.6 degrees Celsius (minus 25 degrees Fahrenheit) to 43.3 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit).
In addition to this, the Red Hawk evaluated the aircraft system’s performance, including propulsion, hydraulic, fuel, electrical, secondary power, environmental control, and overall operations in extreme environmental conditions.
This round of testing was followed by dynamic sled testing at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, with the tests focusing on design enhancements in the Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, ACES 5 ejection seat, and Pacific Scientific EMC’s canopy fracturing system to reduce the risk of injury during the ejection process.
Evelyn Moore, Boeing’s vice-president and program manager, T-7 Programs, said, “The T-7A Red Hawk is poised to revolutionise pilot training, delivering enhanced safety, performance and adaptability, and completing these three milestones shows significant progress in the program’s development.”
Finally in February, Boeing completed development of a new software flight control law and since then, has flown the aircraft more than 10 times, reaching 25-degree angle of attack.
In addition, three of the test flights for the new software demonstrated the aircraft’s s ability to achieve fine tracking while in high angle of attack, a key capability for pilot training. Incorporation of control law 17.5 clears the path for the Air Force to start high angle of attack and departure resistance testing at Edwards Air Force Base.
"We will continue with flight testing and the next round of escape system testing throughout this year and into 2025," Moore added.
While the T-7A Red Hawk continues to progress in testing and flight completions, Boeing is also building a new production line for LRIP of the T-7A.
The company is slated to load the first forward and aft fuselages for LRIP midyear as suppliers are already underway developing parts for production.
