The U.S. Air Force (USAF) is releasing its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed recapitalization of the T-38C Talon flight training program at Vance Air Force Base (AFB) with the new T-7A Red Hawk aircraft. This Draft EIS, dated August 2025, has been provided for public comment.
Air Force photo by Bryce Bennett, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The move positions Vance AFB as the fourth of five installations slated for this significant modernization effort. The proposed action encompasses Vance AFB, located in Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma, and extends to associated Special Use Airspace (SUA) spanning north-central Oklahoma, northern Texas, and south-central Kansas.
The service says Vance AFB was selected for its unique runway structure and SUA, which are well-suited to support high-volume pilot training, and for its capacity to minimize disruptions to pilot production during the transition phase.
The core elements of the proposed recapitalization include the direct replacement of all 63 T-38C aircraft currently assigned to Vance AFB with T-7A aircraft. This transition will also entail a shift in flight operations at Vance AFB and its associated SUA from the T-38C to the T-7A. The operational shift will necessitate temporary changes to personnel numbers and their dependents in the Vance AFB region, alongside significant construction and upgrade projects for operations, support, and maintenance facilities.
Vance AFB, home to the 71st Flying Training Wing (FTW) of Air Education and Training Command (AETC), spans 2,122 acres in Garfield County. Its associated airspace, critical for training, includes Military Operating Areas Vance 1A, Vance 1C, and Vance 1E, as well as Military Training Routes IR-145, IR-171, IR-175, IR-181, and IR-185, covering areas across Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. T-7A operations within this airspace will be limited to subsonic speeds.
The infrastructure component of the Proposed Action involves multiple construction and renovation projects. These include the construction of a new hush house pad for engine testing, new T-7A aircraft shelters, an addition to the egress shop, installation of jet blast deflectors, airfield reconfigurations such as new markings and mooring rods, and interior renovations for squadron operations buildings, the Ground-Based Training System (GBTS) facility, and a Unit Maintenance Training (UMT) facility. Modifications to Hangar Building 199 and the establishment of an additional antenna farm and a munitions storage pad are also planned. These projects are scheduled for completion between 2028 and 2032, preceding the full integration of the T-7A fleet.
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) is evaluating three action alternatives for implementing the T-7A recapitalization at Vance AFB, in addition to a “No Action” alternative. The DAF has not yet designated a preferred alternative, allowing for public comment on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
• Alternative 1 (Anticipated Training Needs): This alternative projects Vance AFB receiving up to 68 T-7A aircraft, maintaining pilot training continuity while phasing out the T-38C fleet. Annual T-7A operations would total approximately 69,800, an increase of about 5,100 operations compared to current T-38C levels due to an additional five aircraft assigned to the installation. This includes approximately 698 annual nighttime T-7A operations.
• Alternative 2 (Increased Operational Tempo): Under this scenario, Vance AFB would also receive up to 68 T-7A aircraft, but operations would increase by approximately 25 percent compared to Alternative 1. This higher tempo would allow for potential surges in pilot training, resulting in an estimated 87,300 annual T-7A operations and up to 873 annual nighttime T-7A operations.
• Alternative 3 (Future Capacity Needs): This alternative explores future capacity, with Vance AFB receiving up to 99 T-7A aircraft. Operations would be approximately 45 percent greater than Alternative 1, leading to an estimated 101,600 annual T-7A operations and up to 1,016 annual nighttime T-7A operations. This alternative would also require the construction of additional T-7A shelters to accommodate the larger fleet.
• No Action Alternative: If this alternative were selected, T-7A recapitalization would not occur at Vance AFB. The T-38C fleet would continue operations, facing increasing maintenance demands as it approaches the end of its service life within the next decade. No new construction or renovation projects would be initiated to support the T-7A program.
For more information, hit the Source below