Aircraft · Air
T-7A Red Hawk
Advanced pilot training aircraft; the acquisition program also includes a ground-based training system. GAO’s 2025 assessment describes development and production concurrency.
- Milestones0
- Operators—
- Components—
- Programs1
- Capabilities—
- Inputs—
Advanced pilot training aircraft; the acquisition program also includes a ground-based training system. GAO’s 2025 assessment describes development and production concurrency.
Timeline
No milestones recorded for T-7A Red Hawk yet. The timeline fills in as unveilings, tests, contracts and deliveries are sourced.
Programs & Awards1 programs
Programs1
- T-7A Red HawkUnited States
Cost to the Government
Aircraft · Boeing / Saab
T-7A Red Hawk
The first production lot is separated from historical budget requests, development and ground-based training.
First production package / aircraft
$15.643M
2026-05-04 · Nominal USD; announced production-package scope
Derived $219M / 14 aircraft, including spares, support equipment and training. Not a flyaway-only price.
U.S. Air Force ↗U.S. inventory
Not verified
A current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.
First production lot
14
May 2026 · U.S. only; stated source scope
Following April 23, 2026 Milestone C; not delivered aircraft.
U.S. Air Force ↗Advanced Pilot Training annual RDT&E
$72.174M / yr
FY2027 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year · Nominal USD; source budget basis
Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request.
Department of Defense Comptroller ↗Cost & funding breakdown
Historical first-lot procurement request
$235.2M
FY2025 request · PB2025 · Nominal USD; source budget basis
PB2025 requested seven aircraft and associated training systems; this older request is not added to the later 14-aircraft award.
DoD Comptroller ↗A revised production lot is not a simple price trend
The earlier budget and 2026 production announcement use different quantities, dates and equipment scopes. Comparing the ratios does not establish a like-for-like cost reduction.
Operations & sustainment
Annual operations & support
Not verified
A complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.
Cost over time · 3 observations
Each row retains its original scope and dollar basis. Changing quantities, service life and inflation can change the estimate without changing the price of building one unit.
| Observation | Measure | Amount | Dollar basis | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year | Advanced Pilot Training annual RDT&E Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request. | $240.513M / yr | Nominal USD; source budget basis | Department of Defense Comptroller ↗ |
| FY2026 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year | Advanced Pilot Training annual RDT&E Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request. | $163.138M / yr | Nominal USD; source budget basis | Department of Defense Comptroller ↗ |
| FY2027 · PB2027; actual / enacted / requested by year | Advanced Pilot Training annual RDT&E Annual research appropriation/reference, not lifetime development cost. FY2025 figures in PB2025 are requests; PB2027 shows FY2025 actuals, FY2026 enacted/spend plan, FY2027 request. | $72.174M / yr | Nominal USD; source budget basis | Department of Defense Comptroller ↗ |
Contracts & purchasing · 1 records
Award values, ceilings and purchase agreements have different meanings. These records are not added together as total spending.
2026-05-04 · First production contract announced
U.S. Air Force → Boeing
$219M · 14 units in scope
Includes support and training. Announcement says the Air Force is moving forward with this contract; not all aircraft delivered.
U.S. Air Force ↗
International buyers
United States · 14 · U.S. procurement customer · Dated source snapshot
Budget request, not evidence of deliveries or a current fleet inventory.
U.S. Air Force ↗
Coverage & open research
- Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book.
- Current U.S. inventory requires additional public evidence; procurement quantities are not inventory.
- Complete system-specific annual operating and support costs were not established.
Unit costs and contract unit prices for this system, and budget figures for the programs that buy it. Each figure states its dollar basis and links its source; contract values are under Programs & awards.