The Boeing Red Hawk team has officially delivered its second T-7A advanced jet trainer to the U.S. Air Force Air Education and Training Command, according to information published January 15, 2026, by the Boeing Defense X account. The aircraft arrived at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, reinforcing the Air Force’s push to replace aging T-38 trainers with a digitally designed platform intended to better prepare pilots for fifth and sixth-generation combat aircraft.

The delivery to the U.S. Air Force confirms the T-7A Red Hawk’s transition into early operational use, following its first aircraft arrival earlier this month. Together, these aircraft will begin hands-on evaluation by AETC as the command finalizes its revised training syllabus, integrates digital maintenance workflows, and refines operational procedures. Boeing’s delivery of a second production representative jet within such a short window reflects the company’s push to accelerate full-rate production while addressing key capability gaps that have emerged over decades of reliance on the aging T-38 Talon.

For over 60 years, the Northrop T-38 Talon formed the backbone of U.S. Air Force pilot training. First flown in 1959 and introduced in 1961, the T-38 served as the primary supersonic trainer for generations of pilots. However, its analog cockpit, limited avionics suite, and dated flight envelope increasingly failed to prepare pilots to transition to fifth-generation platforms such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II. The aircraft’s inability to simulate modern digital combat environments became a growing concern for operational commands, driving the Air Force to seek a purpose-built replacement through the T-X program.

The T-7A Red Hawk, developed by Boeing in partnership with Sweden’s Saab, was selected to answer that need. Designed entirely through digital engineering methods, the T-7A integrates a high-fidelity cockpit, reconfigurable displays, and fly-by-wire flight controls tailored to emulate the performance and systems of front-line fighters. With advanced embedded training capabilities, the Red Hawk can simulate air-to-air threats, radar engagements, and electronic warfare conditions mid-flight. These features were impossible with the T-38 and now enable faster, more adaptable pilot training cycles at lower long-term cost.