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BAE Hawk
BAE Hawk T.1 trainer
Description
Role	Advanced trainer, ground attack and light fighter
Crew	2
First Flight	1974
Entered Service	1976
Manufacturer	BAE SYSTEMS
Dimensions
Length	39 ft 2 in	11.96 m
Wingspan	30 ft 9.75 in	9.39 m
Height	13 ft 1 in	4.0 m
Wing Area	ft²	m²
Weights
Empty	lb	kg
Loaded	lb	kg
Maximum Takeoff	lb	kg
Capacity
Powerplant
Engines	1 x Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 151 turbofan
Thrust	5,200 lb	23 kN
Performance
Maximum Speed	Mach 1.2
Combat Range	miles	km
Ferry Range	miles	km
Service Ceiling	ft	m
Rate of Climb	ft/min	m/min
Wing Loading	lb/ft²	kg/m²
Thrust/Weight
Power/Mass	hp/lb	kW/kg
Avionics
Avionics
Armament
Guns	Option of one 30mm ADEN cannon in centreline gun pod
Bombs	Up to 6,800 lb (3,085 kg) of weapons on five hardpoints
Missiles	Option of two AIM-9 Sidewinder or ASRAAM on wing pylons
Rockets
Other

The BAE Hawk is an advanced jet trainer manufactured by BAE SYSTEMS and used by the Royal Air Force and other countries.

History

In 1964 the Royal Air Force specified a requirement for a new initial jet trainer to replace the Folland Gnat. The SEPECAT Jaguar was originally intended for this role, but it was soon realised that it would be too complex an aircraft for initial jet training. Accordingly, in 1968 Hawker Siddeley Aviation began the design of a much simpler strictly subsonic trainer, the HS.1182. It was to have tandem seating and would be capable of carrying armaments, which would enable it to be used as a weapons trainer and in light combat roles.

Renamed "Hawk" in 1973, the aircraft first flew in 1974. It entered RAF service in April 1976, replacing the Gnat and Hawker Hunter in the advanced training and weapons training roles respectively. The most famous RAF operator is the Red Arrows aerobatic team, which adopted the plane in 1979.

The Hawk subsequently replaced the English Electric Canberra in the target towing role. The Royal Navy acquired a dozen Hawk T.Mk 1/1As from the RAF, for use as aerial targets for the training of ships gunners and radar operators.

Variants

Hawk T1/T1As

The T1 was the original version used by the RAF, deliveries commenced in November 1976. The UK ordered 176 T1s. The Hawk gained an additional role from January 1983, when modification of 88 RAF aircraft to carry Sidewinder missiles commenced. The resulting T.Mk 1A variant was intended for emergency use as a point-defence fighter. Hawks are no longer used in this role. The T1As were upgraded T1s, half of which were modified. In this role the Hawk was expected to operate with the radar equipped Tornado F3.

80 T1s are being upgraded under the Fuselage Replacement Programme (FRP) which involves the replacement of the aft centre and rear fuselage sections, using new build sections derived from the Mk.60.

Hawk 50

The Hawk 50 was the original export trainer version, from which the T-45 Goshawk was derived. The Mk.50 offered a limited attack capability. Finland, Indonesia and Kenya ordered 89 of this variant.

Hawk 60

Another export version, replacing the Hawk 50, intended for conversion and weapons training. Weapons carriage is increased. It is a two-seater, has uprated Rolls-Royce Adour 861 engines and is capable of Mach 1.2, although maximum level speed at altitude is 555 knots or Mach 0.84.

Hawk 100

A two-seat advanced weapons trainer with additional avionics, including forward looking infrared, a redesigned wing and HOTAS.

Hawk 115

The latest export variant of the Hawk. The Mk.115 is destined to enter service with the Indian Air Force after one of the most protracted procurement processes in history, with two decades having elapsed between the initial interest and the contract signing on March 26 2004.

Hawk 120/LIFT

The Hawk Lead In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) is the version selected by the South African Air Force in December 1999. This variant is powered by the Adour 951. The LIFT benefits from development carried out for the Australian Mk.127. The next generation Hawks (120, 127 and 128) feature a new wing, forward and centre fuselage, fin and tailplane. The aircraft have only 10% commonality with the existing first generation aircraft. The new variants also have four times the fatigue life of the original aircraft. 24 aircraft will be delivered.

Hawk 127

33 Hawk 127 Lead in Fighters (LIFs) were ordered by the Royal Australian Air Force in June 1997. The RAAF ordered 33 aircraft, 12 of which were produced in the UK and 21 in Australia. This variant is also powered by the Adour 951.

Hawk 128

The Hawk 128 is the new Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) for the RAF and Royal Navy. The Mk.128 includes modern CRT displays instead of conventional instrumentation, and allows preparation for flying modern fighter aircraft, particularly the all "glass" Typhoon. It has Rolls-Royce Adour 951 engines. BAE funded development of the 128, building on the design of the Australian Mk.127 and the South African Mk.120s. The MoD have ordered 20 aircraft with an option for 24 more.

Hawk 200

The Mk.200 is a single seat, lightweight multi-role combat aircraft for air defence and ground attack missions. It has Rolls-Royce Adour 871 engines. This variant provides a low cost but effective multi-role aircraft. Indonesia, Malaysia and Oman have ordered 62 aircraft. BAE flies a Mk.200 in the demonstator role.

T-45 Goshawk

A fully carrier-capable version of the Hawk Mk.50 was developed for the United States Navy for use in training. This version is known as the T-45 Goshawk. It first flew in 1989 and became operational in 1991. Several modifications were required by the Navy for carrier operations, including improvements to the low-speed handling characteristics and a reduction in the approach speed. The Goshawk was manufactured originally by McDonnell Douglas and later by Boeing.

Notes

The stepped cockpit, allowing the instructor in the rear seat a good forward view, was an innovation adopted by other training aircraft.

Characteristics

• Cost: ~ $18m US (Hawk 155 as sold to India 2003)
• First flight: 1974
• In service date: 1976
• Powerplant : Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour, the current production version of which is the Mk871
• Users: Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Abu Dhabi, Finland, Kenya, Royal Saudi Air Force, South African Air Force, South Korea, Switzerland, the United States Navy (Goshawk) and others

Units Using the Hawk

• Royal Air Force
  • No. 100 Squadron
  • No. 4 Flying Training School
  • RAF Aerobatic Team
• Royal Australian Air Force
• Finnish Air Force
• Kenyan Air Force
• Saudi Arabian Air Force
• South African Air Force
• South Korean Air Force
• Swiss Air Force

External links

• The RAF Hawk page
• BAE SYSTEMS Hawk fact sheet
• http://www.vectorsite.net/avhawk.html
• Photos of Australian air force Hawk
• http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/types/uk/bae_systems/hawk/hawk1.htm
• The Red Arrows
• Global Security on the Goshawk
• The Boeing T-45 Goshawk page
• The Boeing T-45 Goshawk history page

• British military trainer aircraft 1970-1979
• British attack aircraft 1980-1989