State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) delivered the first indigenously built Hawk Mk-132 advanced jet trainer (AJT) to the Indian Air Force (IAF).
Designed by the UK-based defence major BAE Systems, the Hawk is a transonic tandem-seat aircraft that can be used in a ground attack role and is powered by a single Rolls-Royce Adour Mk 871 turbo fan engine.
The aircraft is the first of 42 Hawk aircraft being built under licence by HAL, and is the 15th Hawk AJT handed over to the IAF following the 14 which have been delivered from BAE Systems in the UK. The induction of more Hawks from BAE and HAL will enable the air force to train 40 pilots at a time.
?The Hawk can be used to provide basic, advanced and weapons training. In its operational role, it can be used as a ground attack fighter as it is capable of carrying and delivering munitions. It also has air defence capabilities when armed with air-to-air missiles,? HAL chairman Ashok K Baweja said.
Said Michael Christie, senior vice president Hawk International at BAE Systems, ?The handover of the first HAL assembled aircraft is a significant day for HAL and the Hawk programme. BAE Systems and HAL have worked in partnership in many areas of the Indian Hawk programme, and the delivery of this first HAL assembled aircraft is the latest example of this partnership in action.?
According to Martin Fausset, managing director of Rolls-Royce Defence Aerospace, ?The handover of the first Adour-powered Hawk AJT produced by HAL at Bangalore marks the beginning of the latest chapter of our 52-year partnership. The addition of this new fleet of Adour engines brings twin advantages to the IAF. Pilots will benefit as the engine?s performance and handling make it ideally suited to training, while operating the Adour in the Hawk and the Jaguar will bring commonality benefits and savings.?
The formal handing over of the AJT to IAF Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major was preceded by a 10-minute flight demonstration at the HAL airport in Bangalore.
?The HAL-built Hawk induction into our training course at Bidar air force base will enable our pilots make the transition from sub-sonic to supersonic aircraft for operational and combat purposes,? Major said.
?Fulfilling our long-felt need, the AJT will help us in training more of our rookie pilots in flying frontline aircraft of any type,? the chief added.
?BAE has already delivered 14 of the 24 aircraft till date. Six more are expected to arrive by year-end. At the same time, we eagerly look forward to induct the HAL-made Hawks at regular intervals. We hope HAL will ensure uninterrupted supply of the aircraft to step-up our training programme and maintain them,? Major told mediapersons.
Built at HAL?s aircraft division at Bangalore, the Indian version of Hawk is part of Rs 8000 crore ($1.85 billion) contract the government had signed with BAE in March 2004 to acquire 66 AJTs, including 24 in flyaway condition and 42 to be manufactured indigenously under licence.