Hawk - British Aerospace
The British Aerospace Hawk is a light-attack and trainer similar to the Alpha Jet, M.B.326, AMX, F-5 Freedom Fighter. Through a continuing update and modernization program, the 20-year old Hawk is still known as one of the world’s best advanced trainers and light-attack aircraft.
With a crew of two, if features low-mounted, swept-back wings that are tapered with curved tips. One turbofan engine is located inside the body, with semicircular air intakes alongside the body forward of the wing roots and a single exhaust. The top line of the fuselage curves up from the pointed nose to incorporate the long clear cockpit canopy then slopes down to the jetpipe, giving a humped appearance, with slightly-swept vertical and horizontal tail surfaces.
The maximum level speed of the Hawk is over 1000 km/h and the aircraft can attain supersonic speed (M1.2) in a dive. The Royal Air Force bought 175 Hawk Mk T1 aircraft in the late 70's. RAF Hawks are used in advanced jet and weapons training. US Navy and USMC train pilots with a T-45 Goshawk derivative of the basic BAe Hawk. Other user countries include Brunei, Finland, Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and United Arab Emirates.
In the current RAF training programme, the Hawk T1 is the first jet aircraft that a student pilot will fly. An advanced, and very successful trainer, Hawk is used to teach operational tactics, air-to-air and air-to-ground firing, air combat and low-level operating procedures.
To supplement the Tornado F3 force, a number of Hawk T1A advanced trainers have an additional task as point defence fighters. In this role, the aircraft carry two Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and a 30mm Aden cannon. The RAF's Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, operate the Hawk T1A, and in time of war or crisis would also carry out the point defence fighter role.
Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT)
In mid-2004 the Government of India approved the induction of 66 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft from M/s BAE Systems Limited (BAeS), United Kingdom, into the Indian Air Force (IAF). Twentyfour aircraft would be supplied by BAeS in flyaway conditions and 42 will be manufactured in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under licence. The Contracts and Licence Agreement have been signed in this regard with BAes, and not with the Royal Air Force. Till the new aircraft are available for the IAF, as an interim measure, 75 IAF pilots will be trained in UK in terms of the contract.
The delivery of twenty-four aircraft was expected to commence from September, 2007 and would be completed by February 2008. The delivery of fortytwo aircraft by HAL is expected to commence from March 2008 and would be completed by May 2010.
BAeS has neither asked for 50 million US dollar for "man-hour design work", nor have they threatened that the deal would be scrapped or that they would not stick to the committed price and timing.
The Indian Government has concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of the United Kingdom for the smooth implementation of the project.
