in ,

Boeing-Saab Team Applies Digital Method to 1st Red Hawk Trainer Splice

T-7A Red Hawk
T-7A Red Hawk

A Boeing and Saab partnership completed the first digital splice of the forward and aft sections of a new trainer aircraft the two companies are building for the U.S. Air Force.

Saab assembled the T-7A Red Hawk's aft fuselage in Sweden and delivered the hardware to a Boeing facility in St. Louis, where aircraft mechanics completed the joining process in less than 30 minutes, the Chicago-based aerospace and defense company said Thursday.

Chuck Dabundo, vice president and program manager of Boeing T-7 programs, said the company aims to accelerate delivery of the service branch's new trainer platform using "digitally advanced manufacturing" approaches.

The initial T-7A is intended to serve as a test asset before the team proceeds with the engineering and manufacturing development of five trainers under an $813 million delivery order, as part of the potential $9.2 billion contract awarded in September 2018.

USAF plans to buy 351 units of the new training aircraft along with simulators and ground equipment.

ExecutiveBiz Logo

Sign Up Now! ExecutiveBiz provides you with Daily Updates and News Briefings about Government Technology

mm

Written by Mary-Louise Hoffman

is a writer of news summaries about executive-level business activity in the government contracting sector. Her reports for ExecutiveBiz are focused on trends and events that drive the GovCon industry to include commercial technologies that private companies are developing for federal government use. She contributes news content to ExecutiveBiz’s sister sites GovCon Wire and ExecutiveGov.

Stephen Kovac VP Zscaler
Zscaler’s Stephen Kovac: Executive Order Could Move National Cybersecurity Into ‘Cloud Secure’ Era
GDIT
GDIT Wins Navy R&D Support Task Order Under OASIS Vehicle