First Indian Hawk AJT's headed homewards

10 November 2007

New Delhi: The first two Hawk advanced jet trainers (AJTs) meant to train the next generation of Indian Air Force (IAF) jet pilots have departed from the UK en-route to their new home at Air Force Station, Bidar, in India.

The two jets are the first of 66 Hawk aircraft to be delivered to the IAF as of part of a total training package required to meet the IAFs jet pilot training needs.  The programme includes 24 aircraft being built in the UK by BAE Systems and 42 aircraft being manufactured under licence in India by Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

A senior Indian Air Force official said: ''The induction of the Hawk aircraft marks the fulfilment of a long pending requirement in the Indian Air Force for an Advanced Jet Trainer. The Hawk aircraft, with a proven design and advanced avionics, would bridge the gap between the performance spectrum of the Intermediate trainer and front-line fighter aircraft, which trainee pilots would finally fly in operational squadrons. As a dedicated trainer, the aircraft would greatly enhance flight safety and have a beneficial impact on the quality of training being imparted to fighter pilots.''

Mark Parkinson, managing director, Training Solutions at BAE Systems said: ''This is a proud day for everyone involved on the Indian Hawk programme. Delivering the first Indian Hawks, on time and budget, marks a significant milestone on the project.  We are also particularly pleased to be delivering these exciting new aircraft to the IAF in their 75th anniversary year.''

Since the contract was signed in March 2004, the Indian Hawk programme has moved at a tremendous pace. Over the past three years, in addition to manufacturing the IAF Hawks, BAE Systems, in partnership with the RAF, has delivered a training programme that will see on its completion, over 75 IAF pilots trained on the current RAF Hawk fleet at RAF Valley.

In addition, a number of the Hawks that will be supplied to the IAF have also been used to train around 100 IAF engineering officers and technicians in BAE Systems' Technical Training Academy at Warton who will support the aircraft when it enters service.