Elbit Systems of America confirmed it will supply Boeing a number of products – including cockpit displays, datalinks, and embedded training capabilities for the T-7A Red Hawk (formerly known as T-X) advanced pilot training aircraft Boeing is developing for the United States Air Force. In the initial phase, Boeing was selected to deliver 351 trainers, 46 simulators and associated ground equipment at a contract value of $9.2 billion with deliveries commencing over 10 years, from 2024 to 2034.
Over the program life, that number is expected to grow to 1,000 trainers. Elbit Systems of America has joined the Boeing-Saab team at an early stage and is expected to become a sole supplier for those items. Analyst estimates of the package value are $250 million for the initial phase and over one billion US$ over the life of the program, not including future exports.
[wlm_nonmember]Join as a subscriber to read further analysis of this report[/wlm_nonmember]
[wlm_ismember]The aircraft will be more than 90% made in America and support more than 17,000 U.S. jobs in 34 states. Apart from Elbit Systems of America, the US-based subsidiary of Israel’s Elbit Systems which operates local manufacturing facilities throughout the USA, Boeing T-X team includes the Swedish Saab group, and US companies Triumph Group, General Electric, Collins Aerospace, and L3 Technologies. Saab has also committed to establishing local manufacturing facilities in the USA for its share of T-7A work. Boeing T-X was designed specifically for the U.S. Air Force training mission, to replace the service’s fleet of aging T-38 aircraft.
The systems include large-area displays (LAD), engine fuel indicators, upfront control panels UFPC), Head-Up Displays and associated line replaceable units (LRUs). In addition, the company will supply various air and ground datalinks enabling the T-7A onboard virtual avionics and the Integrated Live/Virtual/Constructive capability. This cutting edge capability simulates the advanced avionics, sensors, and weapons utilized by 5th generation fighters like the F-22 and F-35, enabling Red Hawk pilots to virtually operate those systems while flying the lower cost-to-operate Red Hawk. While the current package primarily addresses hardware, the company could also provide additional services in its areas of expertise, of embedded training, virtual avionics.[/wlm_ismember]
