Randolph AFB starts construction work for T-7A Red Hawk

The Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC) will start major construction work at Randolph AFB (TX, also known as Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, to deliver the infrastructure needed to support the Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk.

The fifth-generation jet trainer will replace Air Education and Training Command's (AETC) ageing fleet of Northrop T-38A/C Talon two-seat, twinjet supersonic jet training aircraft with advanced technology for the next generation of fighter and bomber pilots.

The new aircraft will be delivered to the 12th Flying Training Wing (FTW), which is responsible for four single-source aviation squadrons including Instructor Pilot Training (IPT). AFIMSC plans to renovate thirteen facilities and construct six new facilities to support a total 62 T-7A Red Hawks, the first of which are set to arrive at Randolph AFB in 2023.

The Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), a primary subordinate unit of AFIMSC, oversees environmental impact assessment processes to ensure Department of the Air Force projects comply with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is the most stringent tier of NEPA impact analysis, said Nolan Swick, AFCEC NEPA division programme manager.

AFIMSC’s Det. 7 and AFCEC’s environmental team are working with AETC to analyse potential impacts for five USAF installations expected to host the T-7A Red Hawk and one depot location; Randolph AFB (TX) was the first to complete an EIS for T-7A recapitalization. A draft EIS is underway at Columbus AFB (MS, 14th FTW), the team is in early planning stages at Laughlin AFB (TX, 47th FTW) as well as the future T-7A Depot at Hill AFB (UT), and initial planning for Vance AFB (OK, 71st FTW) and Sheppard AFB (TX, 80th FTW) is slated for 2023.

Image by US Department of Defense (DoD)