Air Force delays T-7 production but expects accelerated initial operational capability

Production of the Air Force’s new T-7A trainer has slipped yet another year, service officials said Wednesday as they announced several changes to the jet’s acquisition plan.T-7 production is now slated to begin in 2026, almost eight years after Boeing won the original contract to replace the service’s half-century-old T-38 trainers.Officials also said they would buy four “production representative” aircraft to speed up testing so the service can achieve initial ope