BAE Systems will have to wait until mid-year to secure a production order for its Hawk 128 advanced jet trainer (AJT), with the company yet to finalise negotiations with the UK Ministry of Defence, say military and industry sources close to the procurement.
The AJT deal is now expected to cover the supply of around 26 trainers plus an initial two development aircraft already completed by BAE, says a company source. This marks a slight reduction from the 30-aircraft deal the company had previously expected to sign in the first quarter of this year (Flight International, 29 November-5 December 2005).
A UK Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) source confirms that the Hawk contract is expected to be signed within the next few months as the first element of the MoD’s wider UK Military Flying Training System (MFTS) deal, bids for which are currently being assessed. “There are no major issues to overcome” before the Hawk 128 deal can be concluded, says the source, who adds that BAE has already demonstrated the required level of performance with its first demonstrator aircraft. The company’s second demonstrator arrived at its Warton site in Lancashire in mid-February and is expected to make its flight debut in the near future.
BAE is also expected to receive an initial Hawk 128 support contract as part of the production deal, although it is likely to have to compete for a longer-term through-life support package. The company had initially expected to receive a UK production order for up to 44 of the new aircraft.
The DPA remains on schedule to sign a contract with a training system partner for the private finance initiative MFTS programme ahead of its mandated start point in April 2007, says the agency source.
To be selected late this year, the successful bidder – either the Ascent, Sterling or Vector consortium – must deliver first services immediately after contract award, although its first new service provision will be to choose ground-based training equipment to support the Hawk 128. The company must also rapidly oversee the selection of a replacement for the UK Royal Navy’s nine BAe Jetstream T2 rear-crew trainers, which will be retired from service in April 2009. The navy last week warned that it will face difficulties in meeting observer training requirements if the MFTS project is delayed.
CRAIG HOYLE / LONDON
Source: Flight International
