Trainer vs Advanced Fighter Jet: How Do They Compare?

Many military pilots begin their flight training without any licenses or flight hours. They must be trained to hone their skills to the level required for combat.

In the past, pilots had minimal training before being set to the battlefield. At the beginning of World War II, pilots would have less than six months or 150 flying hours. However, as time went on, training was given more priority.

Before graduating, military pilots train in two main aircraft types: trainer aircraft and advanced jet trainers. How do these aircraft compare? What does one do better than the other? Let’s find out.

How do training aircraft compare to advanced fighter jets?

Trainer aircraft

The first is a trainer aircraft. These are the equivalent of light aircraft in civil aviation. They are mainly piston-engine propeller-driven aircraft that isn’t complicated to operate, have two seats, and have forgiving flight characteristics. However, they are much more powerful and maneuverable than their civilian counterparts. The military will train pilots with various trainers, usually starting with side-by-side seating, followed by a trainer with tandem seating.

Photos: USAF

Advanced jet trainers

The second type of aircraft is advanced jet trainers, which prepare pilots for the rigors of flying high-powered, extremely maneuverable, and control-sensitive aircraft. These tend to be custom-made aircraft, or older military fighters repurposed as training aircraft. They give pilots a realistic feel for the fighters they will be flying.

Phases of training

Before pilots can graduate to fighters, they have to undergo various levels of training to prove they have the skills to handle these multi-million dollar machines. These are the typical phases of military training:

• Ab initio
• Basic training
• Advanced training

Ab initio

Ab initio means from the beginning. It is the phase where pilots with little to no training learn the basics of aircraft control. Training at this stage is similar to private pilot training. Pilots who graduate will move on to the full training program, while those who fail will be offered the chance to work as navigators, weapons officers, or other similar roles.

Training aircraft are not used during ab initio training. Light aerobatic aircraft are used instead.

Basic Training

In this phase, pilots will be introduced to military trainers. These are high-performance turboprop aircraft.

US Air Force (USAF) and Navy pilots are trained under the Joint Primary Pilot Training (JPPT) program. The trainer used for basic training is the Raytheon T-6A Texan, a Pilatus PC-9 Mk II military variant. The aircraft is a low-wing, tandem-seat, single-turboprop trainer.

Brazil, on the other hand, utilizes the Embraer EMB 321 Tucano. The aircraft has the same configuration as the T-6A Texan.

Photo: US Air Force

Advanced training

Advanced training marks the first time these pilots will get behind the controls of jet-powered aircraft. These aircraft are highly maneuverable and powerful. However, they are also controllable and forgiving to a lesser degree.

The US uses the Northrop T-38 Talon as its current jet trainer. It is a tandem-seat, twinjet, supersonic jet aircraft, the world’s first and most produced supersonic training aircraft. The aircraft was first introduced in 1961 and is showing its age. Therefore, the US began the T-X program to replace it.

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What is the most advanced trainer fighter jet?

Training-focused but mission-capable

Currently, the most advanced jet trainer is the Boeing-Saab T-7 Red Hawk. The aircraft is a subsonic, low-wing, tandem-seat, single-engine advanced jet trainer with twin tails. The aircraft was introduced in a prototype format in 2021.

The aircraft was born from the T-X program. Boeing won the contract for the program and teamed up with Sweden’s Saab in 2016 to help fund and produce the aircraft. It was initially meant to enter service in 2020, but financial constraints pushed the timeline back. It’s currently in the prototype stage, with two aircraft built.

The aircraft’s capabilities match that of a fourth-generation fighter. Boeing has plans to arm the aircraft and turn it into the F-7, a mission-capable replacement for the F-16, Northrop F-5, and Donier Alpha Jet.

It has specifically been designed as a light attack fighter for future mission capability. The aircraft is capable of pulling high-Gs and high-angle attack maneuvers.

The aircraft is powered by a General Electric F404-GE-103 after-burning turbofan engine capable of producing 11,000 lbf (49 kN) thrust. The engine has afterburner functionality and produces 17,200 lbf (77 kN) with afterburners active. However, the aircraft remains subsonic at maximum speed, reaching Mach 0.975, just shy of the speed of sound.

Photo: USAF

The T-7’s avionics suite is cutting-edge, allowing pilots to transition to new fifth-generation fighters seamlessly. It is also equipped with technology to communicate with simulators on the ground and other aircraft in the fleet for more realistic combat training.

Specifications

According to Boeing, the specifications of the T-7 are as follows:

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