Saab delivers third T-7A rear fuselage section to Boeing

Saab delivered to Boeing its third aft fuselage section for use in the T-7A Red Hawk flight test program for the U.S. Air Force.

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The production and shipment of this aft fuselage section is the latest milestone in Saab’s (Sweden) contribution to the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) phase of the T-7A Red Hawk trainer for the U.S. Air Force. Upon completion of the EMD phase, Saab’s new plant in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, will take over the production of the aft fuselage sections for the T-7A program.

«This delivery demonstrates that we are committed to our plan and the solid progress we have made toward completing our EMD schedule. This airframe will be part of the first T-7A to fly and is another step closer to the start of production at our new state-of-the-art facility in West Lafayette, Indiana», said Jonas Hjelm, Senior Vice-President and head of Saab’s Aeronautics business area.

Boeing has spliced Saab’s aft section with the forward section. The wings, control surfaces and tail have then been assembled into a complete test aircraft to be used in the EMD flight test program. The aft section with the installed subsystems – hydraulics, fuel and secondary power system – extends from behind the cockpit to the end of the aircraft.

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In April 2021, Saab delivered its first aft section of the T-7A Red Hawk, followed by the second delivery in July 2021. Upon arrival at Boeing in St. Louis, Saab’s aft section was seamlessly joined with the forward fuselage in less than 30 minutes. This achievement is a testament to the use of digital design and engineering, which provides precision, efficiency and quality improvement throughout the design and delivery of the T-7A Red Hawk.

The T-7A Red Hawk is an entirely new and advanced pilot training system designed for the U.S. Air Force to train the next generation of fighter pilots for decades to come.