Boeing announced Tuesday that it has begun production of the T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer jet.

The jet was fully designed using 3D model-based definition and data management systems developed at Boeing during the last 20 years, Boeing said in a press release.

The new aircraft employed the same digital engineering and design of the Boeing T-X aircraft, which went from firm concept to first flight in 36 months, company officials said.

"This is a historic moment for the program and industry," Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president of T-7 Programs, said in the release.

"The build process leverages full-size determinant assembly, which allows technicians to build the aircraft with minimal tooling and drilling during the assembly process. The digital process accounts for a 75% increase in first-time quality," Dabundo said.

Dabundo also told reporters Tuesday that Boeing is talking with the Navy about the Red Hawk replacing the service's T-45 Goshawk jet trainer.

In September 2018, the Air Force awarded Boeing $9.2 billion to supply 351 advanced trainer aircraft and 46 associated ground-based training simulators to the service.

Saab has partnered with Boeing to provide the aft fuselage for the trainer.

Related Links
Aerospace News at SpaceMart.com

Tweet

Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Once credit card or paypal		SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthly paypal only

First all-Black crew flies JSTARS surveillance mission
Washington DC (UPI) Feb 22, 2021
An E-8C Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System exercise included a 33-person, all-Black flight crew for the first time, the U.S. Air Force said. U.S. Air Force and Army personnel from the Georgia Air National Guard's 116th Air Control Wing, the active-duty 461st Air Control Wing and the Army's 138th Military Intelligence Company, a group known as Team JSTARS, flew from Robins Air Force Base, Ga., on a training mission on Friday. Capt. Dewey McRae, who said he'd long attempted ... read more