The Aircraft of British Aerospace and BAE SYSTEMS 1977 - 2017 101Hawk – 40 years of refinement
production line, with the remainder of
their 66 aircraft order completed by
Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL). In 2010
India increased its order by another 57 to
123 and in January 2017 HAL rolled out
the 100th aircraft with indigenous-
designed avionics refinements.
The RAF now has a fleet of 28
advanced T2s and 54 elderly T1s while
the Royal Navy operates 13 T1s. The
oldest examples operated by the UK are
39 years old. The first RAF Hawk
pre-production T2s ZK010 and ZK011
flew in 2004 and 2005 and the first
production machine ZK012 in 2008.
These Hawk T2 AJT (Advanced Jet Trainer)
are very different to the T1. The latter has
an analogue cockpit whereas the new
aircraft have a modern digital glass
cockpit and has embedded simulation
and emulation technologies which to
quote BAE Systems are, “capable of
turning the skies into a hypothetical
frontline warzone”. The Hawk has adatalink which can simulate threats from
aircraft and weapons to which the pilot
can respond by releasing virtual
weapons.
In February 2016 BAE Systems signed
a contract to supply the Royal Saudi Air
Force with a second batch of 22 Hawk
165s (the export version of the AJT ) in a
commitment pushing the total orders for
the jet trainer through the 1,000 barrier.
Riyadh already had 22 of the new-
generation Hawk trainers on order, the
lead example of which made its maiden
flight from Warton in September 2015.
These 44 Hawk 165s will join 45 Hawk 65s
and 65As. BAE’s current backlog also
includes eight Hawk 166s for Oman.
These aircraft have the latest cockpit and
training system modifications to help
pilots from Saudi Arabia and Oman
transition to the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Thanks to these recent Saudi and Omani
orders, production of Hawk AJTs is
assured until 2018.Advanced Hawk –
launched 2017
In collaboration with Hindustan
Aeronautics, BAE unveiled the Advanced
Hawk at the Aero India show in Bangalore
in February 2017. Development aircraft
ZJ100 displayed the aircraft’s new
capabilities. The Advanced Hawk has
active leading-edge slats and combat
flaps on the wings and an enlarged
display in the cockpit. It also features
additional engine thrust, a laser
designator pod, hardpoints that are
smart-weapon enabled, a dual-purpose
centre line pod (weapons or luggage), The Hawk
production line at
BAE Warton.
(BAE Systems)RAF Hawk T2s ZK010 and ZK011 taking off.
(BAE Systems)