Air Force to Buy T-7A Engines Directly from GE, Bypassing Boeing

The U.S. Air Force plans to purchase F404-103 engines for its new T-7A Red Hawk trainer directly from GE Aerospace, rather than having Boeing supply them as part of the aircraft contract. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center issued two sources sought notices in early July: one for the engines and another for the technical data package needed to establish organic depot-level repair capabilities. This shift gives the service more control over a critical component and addresses concerns about technical data rights, which had been flagged as a high-risk issue for sustainment. The Air Force is negotiating with Boeing to provide the engines as government-furnished equipment. While the change could affect costs and pricing, it mirrors existing practices for other aircraft like the F-35 and F-15EX. A formal request for proposals is expected later this year. Defense analyst J.J. Gertler noted that the government's long history with the F404 engine and past data rights issues likely influenced the decision.