Boeing Taps Saab for Advanced Trainer Fuselage Systems

Saab has received a contract worth $71.2 million from Boeing for the production of advanced training aircraft aft fuselage systems.

The advanced training aircraft fuselage systems will be produced in Saab’s new facility in West Lafayette, Indiana, and first deliveries to Boeing are planned for 2023.

Saab shipped the last of five fully-installed T-7A Red Hawk aft fuselages from its factory in Linköping, Sweden to Boeing’s production site in St. Louis in June.

The U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a $9.2 billion contract for 351 T-7A advanced trainers, 46 simulators and support. The jet was designed using advanced digital modeling and design techniques, and was developed from concept to first flight in 36 months. The T-7A incorporates open architecture software, digital fly-by-wire controls and advanced cockpit technology that provide a new level of safety and training for future fighter pilots.

As part of the manufacturing process, Boeing splices together Saab’s aft section with the front section. This is followed by assembly of the wings, fins and tail to become a complete test aircraft for use in the Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) flight test program. Saab’s first EMD delivery to Boeing was in April 2021. Since then, all further EMD deliveries have been completed in just over a year. On April 28, 2022, Boeing and Saab rolled out the first T-7A Red Hawk advanced trainer test aircraft built for the EMD phase.

Defensemirror.com Bureau