Following the Milestone C determination in April, the U.S. Air Power has cleared T-7A Pink Hawk for serial manufacturing, putting an order for the primary 14 trainers.
The united statesAir Power and Boeing Protection introduced on Could 4, 2026, that the T-7A Pink Hawk has reached the Milestone C on April 23, permitting the service to clear the beginning of the serial manufacturing. Boeing has thus acquired a $219 million contract for the primary 14 superior coach plane as a part of the low-rate preliminary manufacturing (LRIP), in addition to related spares, help gear, and coaching.
The broader Program of Report encompasses 351 T-7As and 46 ground-based coaching simulators to be delivered to 5 Air Schooling and Coaching Command (AETC) bases over the following decade. The primary T-7A Pink Hawk coaching plane was delivered to Joint Base San Antonio – Randolph, Texas, on Dec. 5, 2025.
Prepared and ready.
Thanks, @USAirForce, in your belief and partnership on the T-7A #RedHawk. Milestone C clears the best way for low-rate preliminary manufacturing. Getting this coach to future fighter and bomber pilots rapidly is our mission and dedication to you. Let’s go fly! pic.twitter.com/RcWtjv58Wy
— Boeing Protection (@BoeingDefense) Could 4, 2026
Initially delayed however now again on observe
The newest Air Power assertion confirmed that Preliminary Operational Functionality (IOC) for the T-7A is scheduled for 2027, starting to interchange the growing older T-38 Talon whereas additionally specializing in wrapping up the Engineering and Manufacturing Improvement (EMD) part. The unique IOC goal of 2024 had slipped, with the earlier White Home administration additionally pushing the Milestone C determination to 2026.
The Milestone C determination is the primary of “an modern, phased method,” says the service, with the T-7A Program Workplace looking for particular person approval for every of the primary three low-rate preliminary manufacturing tons. This may help managing “concurrency danger by incorporating insights from ongoing developmental testing and different program progress earlier than committing to subsequent manufacturing tons.”
The plane has suffered many delays because the launch of this system, as a result of points found within the early improvement and testing part. Amongst these had been the habits of the plane at excessive angle of assault and issues with the egress system.
✅Cleared sizzling for manufacturing!!!
Reaching Milestone C indicators progress towards equipping the following technology of @usairforce pilots with cutting-edge coaching capabilities. #T7ARedHawk #TheFirstCommand
— AETC – First Command (@AETCommand) Could 4, 2026
The Air Power has stated the T-7A Pink Hawk would revolutionize undergraduate scholar pilot coaching and instruction for Gen. 4, 5 and 6 fighters by changing the older T-38 Talon. The service has highlighted the T-7A Pink Hawk’s options because the service’s first platform designed and constructed utilizing all-digital strategies “to streamline improvement, manufacturing and sustainment,” and confused on the execution of a concerted roadmap that steadily took the plane from improvement, testing operationalization and induction.
Milestone C and manufacturing determination
The Air Power assertion known as the Milestone C name as a “pivotal second,” for the T-7 Superior Pilot Coaching Program, following a yr of targeted “lively administration” between the Air Power, Air Schooling and Coaching Command, and Boeing. The tight collaboration between the three labored to “ship capabilities to the warfighter as rapidly and safely as doable.”
“Reaching Milestone C is a testomony to the devoted authorities and business groups who’ve labored diligently to beat complicated technical hurdles,” acknowledged William Bailey, Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Power for Acquisition, Know-how, and Logistics. “The T-7A is a pivotal program for the way forward for our fight air forces, and coming into manufacturing brings us one step nearer to placing this important functionality into the arms of our teacher pilots and college students.”
Historic and iconic.
The second T-7A Pink Hawk touched down at @jbsa_official -Randolph with the Taj standing tall within the backdrop — marking one other milestone as #AETC ushers within the @usairforce’s subsequent period of pilot coaching modernization.
📸 U.S. Air Power photographs Ben Faske pic.twitter.com/6W1sXHZl2p
— AETC – First Command (@AETCommand) January 16, 2026
Describing the Milestone C approval as “monumental,” Program Govt Officer for Coaching and Director of the Air Power Life Cycle Administration Heart’s (AFLCMC) Coaching Directorate Rodney Stevens stated it signifies the “confidence within the plane’s design” to help preliminary sequence manufacturing. “Whereas there’s nonetheless work to do, now we have a robust partnership and a transparent path ahead to ship the world’s most superior pilot coaching system,” additional added Stevens.
“Our mission is to coach the following technology of fight aviators, and the T-7A Pink Hawk is the instrument we have to do it,” stated Brig. Gen. Matthew Leard, Director of Plans, Packages, Necessities, and Worldwide Affairs at AETC. “Changing our 60-plus-year-old T-38s is a prime precedence. The T-7A’s superior techniques will give our college students a much more real looking coaching atmosphere, making certain they’re ready for the cockpits of the long run.”
T-7A milestones earlier than serial manufacturing
The T-7A program witnessed a sequence of regular developments since late final yr, as reported by the Air Schooling and Coaching Command (AETC). An high-speed ejection seat trial was held on Apr. 16, 2025, clearing the security issues in regards to the egress system.
In Could 2025, Lt. Gen. Brian Robinson grew to become the primary non-test pilot to fly the T-7A at Edwards Air Power Base, California. The service is presently flying 5 Manufacturing Consultant Check Automobiles (PRTV) take a look at plane, with the final one delivered in December 2024.
Simply Chillin.’ ❄️
The #T7A Pink Hawk simply completed anti-fog, frost and ice floor testing with @TeamEglin within the McKinley Climatic Laboratory. The superior coach is being subjected to radical environmental circumstances to validate its techniques in diverse climates. pic.twitter.com/G7JTzshG1k
— Boeing Protection (@BoeingDefense) June 23, 2025
Between Could and July 2025, the plane additionally underwent the second spherical of utmost climate trials at Eglin AFB, Florida. This was adopted by the plane becoming a member of the fleet on the twelfth Flying Coaching Wing at Joint-Base San Antonio-Randolph (JBSA), Texas in December 2025, forward of the ceremony held for the official arrival on Jan. 9, 2026.
AETC and Boeing reported on Jan. 16 {that a} second T-7A Pink Hawk (tail 21-7003) arrived at JBSA. These plane will assist construct out the Sort 1 upkeep coaching and preliminary pilot coaching, in addition to prepare the primary instructors.
Within the run as much as the Milestone C determination, AETC chief Lt. Gen. Clark Quinn additionally visited the Air Power Check Heart (AFTC) at Edwards AFB on Jan. 31 “for an replace on the T-7A Pink Hawk program and accomplished his first flight within the plane,” the command stated. By Mar. 10, the AETC stated that the primary batch of maintainers at JBSA had accomplished the Section 1 qualification coaching for the T-7A Pink Hawk.
@usairforce Lt. Gen. Clark Quinn, COMAETC, visited the @airforcetestcenter at @edwardsairforcebase for an replace on the T-7A Pink Hawk program and accomplished his first flight within the plane. pic.twitter.com/p2B2W3xWRP
— AETC – First Command (@AETCommand) January 31, 2026
The maintainers from the twelfth Plane Upkeep Squadron (twelfth AMXS) underwent programs in crew chief duties, propulsion, built-in avionics, egress, fuels and upkeep teacher. With each theoretical and sensible instruction for the operation, removing, set up and testing of all main techniques, maintainers underwent “written exams that measure knowledge-based studying and teacher checklists used to evaluate hands-on upkeep duties,” AETC stated.
Getting ready maintainers to maintain the next-gen of pilot coaching.Airmen at @JBSA_Official are finishing Section 1 qualification coaching for the T-7A Pink Hawk, constructing the technical experience wanted to help the @usairforce‘s future coaching plane. pic.twitter.com/EQHYbkAOiE
— AETC – First Command (@AETCommand) March 12, 2026
The coaching was break up within the Preliminary Coaching, Operations and Analysis (ITO&E) and Preliminary Sustainment Help (ISS) phases. The assertion defined “ITO&E represents the preliminary qualification part, the place maintainers obtain formal instruction and hands-on coaching to construct foundational data of the plane’s techniques and upkeep procedures. ISS follows the sustainment part, the place certified personnel apply their coaching whereas persevering with to refine procedures and construct expertise because the plane integrates into the coaching enterprise.”
The T-7A Pink Hawk’s ground-based simulator delivers high-resolution visuals and built-in avionics, giving pilots a sensible atmosphere to coach in complicated, mission-relevant circumstances.
Test it out!🔗
📸 @jbsa_official #T7A #RedHawk #PilotTraining pic.twitter.com/7gWg4hYV6T
— AETC – First Command (@AETCommand) April 24, 2026
