THE ISRAELI air force has ruled out the Beechcraft MK-2 from its trainer procurement, despite its winning the US Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) competition. The British Aerospace Hawk is now its preferred solution.
A senior Israeli air force source says that the MK-2 turboprop trainer "...is not the right answer for our needs. We prefer a jet aircraft to serve as a basic and advanced trainer".
The Israeli air force has flight- tested the BAe Hawk and has reached the conclusion that it can fulfil the task of a basic and advanced trainer.
If the Hawk was ordered, BAe would be expected to allow Israel Aircraft Industries to supply the avionics and to carry out the integration in Israel.
The Israeli air force intends to fly the Zukit trainer (an upgraded French Fouga CM-170), for another five years. Deliveries of the replacement aircraft would begin in the year 2000.
Source: Flight International
