Douglas Barrie/LONDON Guy Norris/Los Angeles
The Royal Air Force is examining a life-extension programme for its British Aerospace Hawk trainers, with BAe also looking at the possibility of addressing any emerging requirement with a re-engined aircraft fitted with a digital cockpit.
The Hawk, introduced into service in the late 1970s, was due to be replaced from 2008, while the Shorts Tucano was to remain as the turboprop trainer. The UKMinistry of Defence (MoD), however, says that "-some initial thought is now being given to a life-extension programme for the Hawk."
BAe's interest in further developing the Hawk appears to be gaining credibility at the expense of its tentative plans for a New Jet Trainer (NJT). BAe was in the early-1990s pursuing a long-term strategy of collaboratively developing an NJT to replace the Hawk.
BAe sources, however, now say that the focus of future training requirements is based around using the Hawk airframe while upgrading the avionics and cockpit, as well as considering alternative power plants to the Rolls Royce/ Turboméca Adour.
Re-engineing the Hawk is already being actively considered by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) with the International Turbine Engine (ITEC) F124 to meet its lead-in fighter requirement. AnRAAF decision on whether to stay with the Adour or to adopt the F124 is expected by the end of February.
Another potential powerplant is the dry variant of the Eurojet EJ200 turbofan developed for the Eurofighter EF2000. o
Source: Flight International
