Although it showed initial interest in the now 12-nation Advanced European Jet Pilot Training, or Eurotraining, project, the UK did not share its allies' enthusiasm for a common pilot training syllabus. Instead, its future requirements will be met by the UK Military Flying Training System (UK MFTS) - a wide-ranging package of systems expected to cost £12.5 billion ($22.8 billion) and to achieve an in-service date of 2012.
Although still in its assessment phase ahead of a main gate approval in 2006, one of the UK MFTS project's leading aspects has already been decided on, following the Ministry of Defence's selection of BAE Systems' Hawk 128 to meet its future advanced jet trainer (AJT) requirement. To replace part of the UK's current British Aerospace Hawk T1/1A fleet from 2008, the AJT will be in service two years ahead of the Eurotraining project's original planned operational date of 2010. The UK is to buy up to 44 Hawk 128s for £800 million, with a 25-year package of training support, maintenance and logistics to increase this part of its MFTS infrastructure to £3.5 billion.
With a glass cockpit, simulated radar and advanced avionics, the aircraft will bridge the gap between training and frontline operations and strike platforms including the BAE Harrier GR9/9A, Panavia Tornado GR4, Eurofighter Typhoon and the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, with emphasis on systems management.
BAE hopes its success in being selected for the UK AJT requirement will prompt a new round of orders for 400-500 Hawks, representing about one-third of available business in the global jet trainer market over the next 15 years, according to the company. India launched this process with a contract for 66 Hawks, and its first of 75 air force pilots began training at RAF Valley in Wales this month.
A design and development contract for BAE to produce an initial two Hawk 128s for the UK could be signed during the Farnborough air show, with a subsequent production deal for a further 18-42 aircraft to be signed next February or March.
Key elements of the Hawk 128 system will be test flown later this year using BAE's Hawk 100 company demonstrator to prove the aircraft's open-architecture mission computers, radar and avionics to the UK MoD.
The UK MFTS process is not without its difficulties, however, with BAE and the MoD having backed away from an original proposal to lease flying hours using company-owned Hawk 128s. The company this year also withdrew from the contest to become training systems integrator (TSI) for the UK MFTS, citing concerns over the level of risk and future uncertainty over the programme. However, company sources privately concede the decision was in part driven by its success in landing the AJT deal.
With this in place, it was faced with a choice of competing for the jet's lucrative £2.7 billion support package or vying to become TSI as part of an industrial consortium. Its withdrawal from the latter leaves Ascent (Lockheed Martin, Rolls-Royce and VT Group); Boeing and Thales Defence; and Vector (Kellogg Brown & Root and EG&G/Lear Siegler) to contest the TSI role.
Source: Flight International
