A new kind of jet trainer will soon be flying the skies over northern Oklahoma. Vance Air Force Base in Enid will receive the new T-7Ajet trainer and replace the T-38C jets that have been used in the training of new Air Force pilots.
Congressman Frank Lucas said it means Vance AFB will be the fourth T-7A Main Operating Base in the Air Force.
“I’m pleased to see Vance Air Force Base’s selection as home for the new T-7A, which is an investment into the community of Enid,” said Representative Lucas. “With the largest military operating area, cheapest pilot training pipeline cost, and a fourth runway, Vance Air Force Base is a seamless partner for the Air Force to integrate the T-7A. I thank our community that has worked for decades at the local, state, and federal level of government to ensure that Vance Air Force Base is best equipped to best support the next generation of USAF pilots and their loved ones.”
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) will support all aspects of the T-7A recapitalization, including the construction and upgrades to operations, support, and maintenance facilities to support pilot training and aircraft operation and maintenance. In aircraft alone, this decision represents an investment of up to $2 billion at Vance AFB.
“We very much appreciate being selected as the premier location for the maximum deployment of the new T-7A aircraft,” said Michael Cooper, Chairman of the Vance Development Authority. “Due to our excellent community and base relationship, we continue to be successful in our efforts to enhance the base, bringing support from all levels to assist with increasing mission capabilities. With this decision and new personnel it brings to Vance AFB, Enid will need to continue our efforts to develop more affordable available homes and expand our efforts to create water resiliency and alternative energy options for the base.”
The Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk is the U.S. Air Force’s next-generation advanced jet trainer and is designed to replace the 1960s-era T-38 Talon. It is the first Air Force aircraft engineered using all-digital methods. The U.S. Air Force awarded a low-rate initial production contract for 14 aircraft in April 2026.
- Mission: Prepares student pilots for modern 5th and 6th-generation fighters like the F-35 and F-22. [1, 2]
- Speed: Reaches near-supersonic speeds of roughly Mach 0.975 (around 750 mph). [1, 2]
- Thrust: Powered by a single General Electric F404-GE-103 afterburning turbofan engine, producing roughly 17,200 lbf of thrust. [1]
- Design: Features modern fly-by-wire digital controls, stadium seating for the instructor and student, and an advanced onboard training system that connects to ground simulators.
“I was very pleased to learn that Vance AFB will be receiving the T-7A,” said David Mason, Mayor of Enid, OK. “I think this shows the trust and relationship the Air Force has for Enid and the relationship Enid has for Vance and its continued mission to train the best pilots in the Air Force. Our community will continue to diligently work towards providing all the Infrastructure and Quality of life needs for Vance AFB to increase and enhance its mission capabilities. I’m proud to live in Enid, home of Vance AFB.”
Background:
The U.S. Air Force T-7A Recapitalization Program replaces the aging T-38C fleet with a modern advanced trainer designed to better prepare pilots for 4th-, 5th-, and future 6th-generation aircraft. It fields a new training system that integrates the T-7A aircraft with advanced simulators, ground-based training, and updated infrastructure across key pilot training bases. The decision is intended to provide the Air Force with operational flexibility, and inclusion of this alternative in this EIS provides analysis to evaluate future capacity needs.
