BAe Hawk AJT continues to be the favorite of the Air Force

The Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) is the latest version of the world’s most successful advanced jet training aircraft.

The Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer is the latest version of the world’s most successful advanced jet training aircraft, outperforming and outselling all other aircraft in its class. Over 900 Hawk aircraft are in operational service with or have been ordered by 18 customers world-wide, and over 2.5 million flying hours have been logged on the type.

The Hawk’s production site is at Brough in East Yorkshire, which boasts a full range of capabilities including design, engineering, manufacture, testing and in-service support. The aircraft are designed, developed and manufactured through to final assembly, and are then flown to Warton in Lancashire where flight- testing takes place.

The most recent Hawk is the new Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) which has been developed to provide training for future pilots of 4th and 5th Generation aircraft such as Typhoon, F-35 Lightning II and F18 to name just a few.

The Hawk continues to be the most capable and cost-effective advanced jet trainer – in service, in production and in demand, teaching modern air combat skills for today and tomorrow.

AIRCRAFT FACTS

The Hawk AJT is a new aircraft, which has encapsulated 30 years of experience with new systems to provide state-of-the-art training for the 21st Century.

Principal Features
    Three, full colour, Active Matrix Liquid Crystal Displays (AMLCD), each controlled by 'soft keys', and each able to display the full range of navigation, sensor, weapons and systems data
    Cockpit lighting fully compatible with the use of Night Vision Goggles (NVG), for enhanced situational awareness during night operations
    Head-Up Display (HUD) featuring symbology compatible with front line combat aircraft types
    Hands-On-Throttle-And-Stick (HOTAS) controls with moding and switching fully representative of front line combat aircraft types
    Inertial Navigation/Global Positioning System (IN/GPS) for enhanced navigation/ weapon aiming accuracy
    Health and Usage Monitoring System (HUMS) guaranteeing up to 10,000 hours Fatigue Life (based on Royal Air Force operational usage)
    Rolls Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk.951 turbofan engine (6,500lb) with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) and a target TBO (Time Between Overhaul) of 4,000 hours.

Enhanced systems on the aircraft also include:
    An upgraded Electrical System, with power provided by a 25kVA generator
    An Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) to provide electrical power and avionic cooling air whilst the aircraft is on the ground.
    The APU also provides engine start and engine re-light capability in flight.
    An On-Board Oxygen Generation System (OBOGS)
    Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS)
    Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS)
    Digital Moving Map (DMM)
    Autopilot
    Air-to-Air Refuelling (AAR) capability using a fully-detachable, fixed position probe, mounted ahead of the aircraft windshield
    Embedded weapons and sensor simulation allowing cost effective training to be carried out on systems and tactics used on 4th and 5th generation frontline aircraft.

Technical Data / Performance (Indicative)
    Length overall - 40ft 7in (12.43m)
    Wing span (with missiles) - 32ft 7in (9.94m)
    Wing area - 179.64sq.ft (16.69sq.m)
    Height overall - 13ft 1in (3.98m)
    Basic Mass Empty (BME) - 9,792lb (4,440kg)
    Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) - 20,069lb (9,100kg)
    Maximum level speed (at sea level) - 555KCAS (0.84M)
    Maximum Dive Speed - Mach 1.2
    Maximum Load factors - +8g to –4g; +6g to –3g (with 6,000lb of weapons and 60% fuel)
    Rolls Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk.951 turbofan engine (6,500lb) with Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) and a target TBO (Time Between Overhaul) of 4,000 hours.

Capability

Equipped with a moderately swept wing, which has a combat flap setting and ample reserves of power from the Adour engine, the Hawk is able to demonstrate exceptional flying characteristics. The aircraft has an excellent turn rate in both clean and loaded configurations and an impressive climb rate.

Throughout it's flight envelope the Hawk demonstrates stable, carefree handling characteristics with no control difficulties and therefore provides an exceptionally safe training environment for pilots.

The aircraft is equipped with the latest cockpit displays and sensors and is able to demonstrate air-to-air and air-to-ground combat and tactical formation flying and perform extended missions through the use of an Air to Air Refuelling (AAR) probe and external wing tanks. Consequently the Hawk is an ideal platform for the introduction of student pilots in the Advanced Fast Jet (AFJ) phase of conversion.

The Hawk has tandem seats, with full controls available in the front and rear cockpit. Duplication of essential controls with appropriate override facilities is provided in the rear cockpit, for example store jettison, landing gear and flaps. Internal lighting is provided for instruments, displays, and general cockpit illumination. Cockpit lighting, instruments, and displays are compatible with the use of Night Vision Goggles (NVG).

Customers

With 18 customers, the Hawk aircraft has been widely exported around the world, with the most recent customers being Australia, Canada, South Africa, Bahrain, India and the UK RAF.

Current Contracts:

Australia

The Hawk Mk127 contract, signed in 1997 was to deliver 33 fleet aircraft, one fatigue test aircraft and two operational flight trainers, supported by a suite of integrated computer based training classrooms. The first aircraft was delivered in late 2000 and the last aircraft delivered in mid 2001. As part of the work offset programme, a state of the art dedicated assembly and support facility was built at Williamtown in Australia. In 2002 one of the 33 aircraft were modified and accepted by the customer to operate as an instrumented test aircraft. The initial support period expired in March 2007 and CS&S Australia has secured a follow-on ten year support programme.


NATO Flying Training in Canada (NFTC)

NFTC is a training facility in Canada for pilots from around the world. It is operated by Bombardier of Canada and utilises Hawk as the Advanced Jet Trainer. Eighteen Hawk Mk115s were delivered during 2000/2001 and since then a further two batches of two aircraft have been delivered to satisfy increasing student numbers. One of the Hawks at the NFTC surpassed 3,000 flying hours in 2007 becoming the 'fleet leader' for the 100 series Hawk.


South Africa

The South African contract for 24 aircraft became effective in 2000. Aircraft number SA001, which was manufactured through to Final Assembly stages at Brough and flight-tested at Warton, successfully flew in South Africa early in 2004. Final Assembly of the remaining 23 aircraft is has been undertaken by Denel in South Africa, with flight-testing taking place in the South African Air Force's Test Flight & Development Centre (TFDC) in Bredasdorp. All 24 aircraft have been delivered to the South African Air Force.

Bahrain

The contract to supply six Hawk Mk129 AJT's along with a package of equipment, support and training for the Royal Bahrain Air Force (RBAF) became effective early in 2003. All aircraft have now been delivered. The first aircraft made its maiden flight six months ahead of schedule. Two of the aircraft have been in use in the first part of 2006 at BAE Systems' Technical Training Academy at Warton, where 54 RBAF technicians have undergone intensive training to prepare them in all aspects of maintenance of the Hawk aircraft.

India

The contract for the Indian Air Force comprises the purchase of 66 aircraft, associated support and interim pilot training. The initial batch of 24 has been built at BAE Systems' facilities in the UK. The first aircraft was delivered to the Indian Air Force in December 2007. The following 42 are being manufactured in India through a partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Over 70 Indian Air Force pilots have undergone interim pilot training at RAF Valley, a programme delivered in partnership with the RAF. The first Hawks were inaugurated into the Indian Air Force at a ceremony at Air Force Station Bidar in February/March 2008. By June '08, BAE Systems has delivered 12 of the UK-built jets to the Indian Air Force. In addition BAE Systems has delivered 1,500 tonnes of raw material, 3,500 tools and 15 million components for the aircraft that will be built in India.

UK RAF

With the recent introduction into RAF service of a modern digital cockpit aircraft, the training potential offered by the current fleet is no longer adequate to meet the pilot training need. In July 2003, the UK Government announced that BAE Systems had been selected to provide aircraft to train its next generation of pilots.

In October 2006 a production contract was signed for a total of 28 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers, which includes the 'productionisation' of the two development aircraft. BAE Systems is currently in the process of delivering the Hawk T.Mk2 to the Royal Air Force at RAF Valley, for Phase 4 Tactical Training.

BREAKDOWN OF HAWK USER NATIONS