Red Hawk jet passes CDR for ground-based training elements

Boeing and the US Air Force (USAF) have successfully concluded the critical design review (CDR) for the ground-based elements of the T-7A Red Hawk jet trainer, it was disclosed on 6 April.

One of the two production-representative T-7A Red Hawk jets seen at Boeing’s St Louis facility in Missouri. The ground-based elements of the pilot training system recently passed a critical design review with the US Air Force. (Jane’s/Gareth Jennings)

The T-7A Ground Based Training Systems (GBTS) CDR was a five-day conclusion to 18 months of development work on the systems, and its completion paves the way for manufacturing to begin on the ground-based elements of the USAF’s aircrew training system, Boeing told Jane’s .

“The review analysed the T-7A’s ability to conduct live, virtual and constructive training exercises, through dynamic motion-enabled trainer cockpits; high-resolution projection systems; digital debrief stations and simulated avionics as well as egress training that will better prepare pilots for escaping an aircraft during an emergency,” Boeing said.

As the manufacturer noted, the CDR was held virtually between the Air Force System Program Office (SPO) out of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (AFB) in Ohio, and the Boeing T-7A Red Hawk programme office in St Louis, Missouri. The Air Force Air Education Training Command (AETC) at Edwards AFB in California, Headquarters Air Force, Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Contracting Management Agency also participated.

Developed in partnership with Saab, the Red Hawk was selected under the T-X Advanced Pilot Training Program (ATP) to replace the USAF’s Northrop T-38 Talon that has been in service since the 1960s.