T-7A Ecosystem Transforms Pilot Training at JBSA-Randolph

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Phillip Bourquin, 99th Flying Training Squadron director of operations, briefs Maj. Gen. Roy Collins, Air Education and Training Command deputy commander, about the training capabilities of the T-7A Red Hawk during his tour of the 12th Training Squadrons T-7A simulators and aircraft at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, July 29, 2026. The visit allowed Collins to gain firsthand insight into how the T-7A Red Hawk GBTS will be used to prepare future Air Force pilots. During the tour, he learned how the integrated simulator and aircraft training environment will enhance undergraduate pilot training by providing students with realistic, high-fidelity instruction before they transition to flying the aircraft.

T-7A Ecosystem Transforms Pilot Training at JBSA-Randolph

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Roy Collins, Air Education and Training Command deputy commander, pilots a T-7A Red Hawk in the Ground Base Training System during his tour of the 12th Training Squadrons T-7A simulators at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, July 29, 2026. The visit allowed Collins to gain firsthand insight into how the T-7A Red Hawk GBTS will be used to prepare future Air Force pilots. During the tour, he learned how the integrated simulator and aircraft training environment will enhance undergraduate pilot training by providing students with realistic, high-fidelity instruction before they transition to flying the aircraft.

T-7A Ecosystem Transforms Pilot Training at JBSA-Randolph

Modernizing for Speed and Agility: T-7A Ecosystem Transforms Pilot Training at JBSA-Randolph

Published Aug. 12, 2026
By Tyler Whiting
Air Education and Training Command

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --

The Air Force's transition to the T-7A Redhawk ecosystem in pilot training directly delivers on Air Education and Training Command’s imperative to modernize training for speed and agility, transforming how we prepare future aviators for the high-end fight.

The scope of this modernization was on full display during a recent visit by Maj. Gen. Roy Collins, AETC deputy commander, who toured the 12^th Flying Training Wing’s evolving T-7A Ground-Based Training System (GBTS) and flightline operations to see the training transformation firsthand.

During his tour, Collins met with new civilian simulator instructors from the 12th Training Squadron to examine how these advanced digital systems will accelerate building muscle memory and proficiency, and integrate seamlessly into the broader T-7A pipeline.

“Unlike legacy simulators, the GBTS allows us to bridge classroom theory and flight execution more seamlessly than ever before,” Collins said. “The integrated Live Virtual Constructive training provides students with a highly realistic, immersive environment where our students on the ground can interact with pilots in the air in real time. This allows for a fully networked training environment to prepare pilots for fifth-generation platforms.”

This networked approach extends directly to the flightline. On the 99th Flying Training Squadron ramp, Collins got a first-hand look at the T-7A, discussing with the unit’s initial cadre how pairing the physical jet with the digital training system creates a faster, more adaptable pipeline for undergraduate pilot training.

"Onboarding a brand-new airframe alongside a next-generation GBTS is a complex challenge, but it is exactly how we future-proof our readiness," Collins noted. "This shared effort between our military professionals and civilian simulator partners allows us to maximize our resources, proving that we can sustainably generate the lethal, ready aviators our nation requires."

By moving beyond legacy models, the integration of the T-7A and its advanced simulators demonstrates how AETC is establishing a scalable, modern enterprise built on speed and agility, ensuring the Air Force is postured to meet future operational demands.