BAE Systems, Boeing, and Saab have formalized a partnership to compete for the Royal Air Force’s (RAF) future fighter pilot training program, offering a solution based on the T-7A Red Hawk jet.
As part of the proposal, the companies plan to build a new final assembly and integration facility in the United Kingdom, strengthening the national industry and increasing British autonomy in military pilot training.
The initiative comes at a time when the Hawk T2 trainer fleet is facing serious availability problems due to recurring engine failures. These difficulties have forced the United Kingdom to rely on overseas training programs to continue preparing new pilots. The British Strategic Defence Review concluded that keeping the Hawk aircraft in service was no longer economically viable and recommended adopting a single, more modern and efficient platform.
The T-7A Red Hawk is being presented as a next-generation alternative because it was developed using digital engineering, a process that made it possible to simulate and validate its systems before physical production even began. The aircraft has already started transitioning to series production in the United States, where it will replace the veteran T-38 Talon under a program involving hundreds of aircraft and dozens of simulators for US Air Force training.
In addition to the aircraft, the joint proposal offers an integrated system combining live flights with advanced simulator training, designed to keep pace with the evolution of RAF fighter aircraft, including future sixth-generation platforms. According to the companies, the project could also create hundreds of skilled jobs and establish a British supply chain covering the program’s entire life cycle, although the RAF has not yet announced which platform will officially replace the Hawk.
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Source: BAE Systems | Photos: BAE Systems | Boeing | U.S. Air Force. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
