Air Force T-7A Red Hawk Trainer (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Sept. 18, 2019 |
| Report Number |
R44856 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Jeremiah Gertler; Ceir Coral |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
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Summary:
NOTE: This report was originally written by Ceir Coral while he was an Air Force Fellow at the
Congressional Research Service. Since his departure, it has been maintained by Jeremiah Gertler
of CRS.
On December 30, 2016, the United States Air Force (USAF) issued a final solicitation and request
for proposal (RFP) to industry to replace the USAF trainer fleet of T-38C Talon aircraft and
associated ground-based training systems. The USAF intends to buy 350 Advanced Pilot Training
(APT T-X) aircraft and 46 Ground-Based Training Systems (GBTS), a contract valued at roughly
$1.5 billion for the research, design, test, and evaluation phase of the program and estimated $18
billion in future procurement.
The FY2019 Administration budget request included $265.465million for the T-X.
Contract award was anticipated in December 2017. However, the FY2019 defense budget
submission now projects an award sometime in FY2018.
According to the USAF, the T-38C trainer fleet is old, costly, and outdated. It lacks the
technology to train future pilots for fifth-generation fighter and bomber operations. Based on Air
Education Training Command’s evaluation of the required capabilities to train future pilots for
fifth-generation fighters and bombers, the T-38C falls short in 12 of 18 capabilities, forcing the
USAF to train for those capabilities in operational units where flying hours are costly and can
affect fleet readiness.
Based on the requirements set forth in the USAF’s RFP, the APT T-X aircraft may shift training
from Field Training Units, where expensive fifth-generation aircraft are used, to less expensive
trainer aircraft. Also, the higher fidelity GBTS could improve training for student pilots and move
many tasks from aerial flight training into simulators.
Industry has worked closely with the USAF in shaping the requirements to facilitate better
understanding and improve acquisition effectiveness. Some analysts believe the source selection
plan is focused on price as the dominant factor. A field that started with five viable offerors has
been reduced to three.
The APT T-X acquisition strategy poses potential oversight issues for Congress, including the
following: Is the number of planned aircraft purchases sufficient? Given the reported pilot
shortage, should the procurement be accelerated? What effects do increased F-35A and KC-46
purchases, along with development of the new Long Range Strike Bomber, B-21, have on the
USAF budget and the feasibility of an additional Major Defense Acquisition Program?
