Advanced Pilot Training

Mission — Advanced Trainer Replacement T-7A source

The Advanced Pilot Training (APT)/T-7A Red Hawk program will replace the Air Education Training Command's (AETC) aging T-38C fleet with new aircraft, Ground Based Training System (simulators, training devices, computer based training systems, academics, etc.), Maintenance Training System, and support infrastructure currently used in the fighter/bomber advanced Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training track as well as in the Introduction to Fighter Fundamentals program. The APT/T-7A Red Hawk program acquisition strategy was approved by OSD (AT&L) in December 2016. In addition, the APT/T-7A Red Hawk Team completed their Development Request for Proposal (RFP) Release Defense Acquisition Board and subsequently released the RFP to industry on 30 December 2016. The Program completed source selection evaluations and Milestone B and awarded a Fixed Price Incentive Firm (FPIF) Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) contract to The Boeing Company on 27 September 2018. The Maintenance Training System (MTS) effort is a Delivery Order under a separate ID/IQ Contract and was competitively awarded on 11 April 2025 to Pinnacle Solutions, LLC. The T-7A MTS will provide maintainers with the foundational skills and core competencies required to maintain the T-7A aircraft and its associated subsystems. The MTS will be a blended training solution to include: a.) a suite of Maintenance Training Devices (MTDs) with associated support equipment; b.) Interactive Multimedia Instruction (IMI)/courseware and training material; c.) smart classrooms to facilitate instructor-led training; and d.) support environments to manage training schedules, student data, and updates to all training capabilities. The T-7A MTS program will encompass the design, development, integration, and test of the most efficient and effective combination of training capabilities, as well as Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) performance. Funding contained in this platform's documentation directly aids AETC flying training enterprise to continue its overall future pilot production increase that began in FY 2020, thus reducing the USAF Pilot Shortage. The service originally planned to award Boeing its first Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) production contract to build the seven T-7s in FY 2025. The service will now award a contract for 14 LRIP Aircraft in FY 2026 under a revised acquisition strategy . This new strategy will procure four additional T-7 production Relevant Test Vehicles (PRTVs) using FY 2025 research and development funds that will be delivered in FY 2026. The Incentive Strategy will expedite closure of EMD testing, increase Boeing's production readiness at its facility in St Louis, MS, and accelerate entrance into Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. This requirement supports performance of a full financial audit as required by title 10 U.S.C. Chapter 9A, Sec 240-D. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024 $2.423 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY 2025 $2.695 million is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. The FY 2026 request was reduced by $1.814 million for Advisory and Assistance Services to promote efficiencies and advance the policies of the Administration in alignment with Executive Order 14222, "Implementing the President's Department of Government Efficiency Cost Efficiency Initiative." This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (1)