Saab Celebrates Milestone as USAF Pilot Takes to the Skies in T-7A Red Hawk

The inaugural flight conducted by a pilot from the United States Air Force (USAF) of a T-7A advanced jet trainer constructed during the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) stage occurred on June 28 from St. Louis, USA.

The 63-minute flight led by USAF test pilot Maj. Bryce Turner, 416th Flight Test Squadron, alongside Boeing T-7 chief test pilot Steve Schmidt, was witnessed by prominent officials from the USAF, Boeing, and Saab, as well as an online audience who tuned in via the internet.

“The initial flight of the T-7A by an active-duty Air Force aviator marks a significant milestone for the program and reflects the years of diligence and commitment from Saab and Boeing,” stated Erik Smith, President and CEO of Saab in the U.S.

Saab is tasked with the design and production of the fully integrated rear section for the T-7A. The seven rear sections manufactured at Saab in Linköping, Sweden, are integral to the EMD test aircraft. Saab has inaugurated a cutting-edge production facility in West Lafayette, Indiana, dedicated to manufacturing the series aircraft, which will serve for pilot training by the U.S. Air Force.

The T-7A initiative is presently in the EMD phase. This phase comprises engineering, verification, and validation tasks, test aircraft construction, flight test assistance, and preparations for series production. Saab’s initial delivery during the EMD phase to Boeing occurred in April 2021. Following that, all subsequent EMD deliveries were accomplished in just over a year. On April 28, 2022, Boeing and Saab unveiled the first T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer test aircraft engineered for the EMD phase. An initial trial flight of the EMD aircraft was conducted previously by a Boeing test pilot.