| BAE Hawk | 
BAE Hawk T.1 trainer | | Description | | Role | Advanced trainer, ground attack and light fighter | | Crew | 2 | | First Flight | 21 August 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 | 179.60 ft² | 16.69 m² | | Weights | | Empty | 8,040 lb | 3,647 kg | | Loaded | 11,100 lb | 5,035 kg | | Maximum Takeoff | 12,566 lb | 5,700 kg | | Powerplant | | Engines | 1 x Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 151 turbofan | | Thrust | 5,200 lb | 23 kN | | Performance | | Maximum Speed | 645 mph | 1,038 km/h | | Combat Range | miles | km | | Ferry Range | 1,923 miles | 3,094 km | | Service Ceiling | 50,000 ft | 12,240 m | | Rate of Climb | 9,300 ft/min | 2,835 m/min | | Wing Loading | 61.8 lb/ft² | 301.7 kg/m² | | Thrust/Weight | 0.47:1 | | 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; T.1 normally 1,500 lb (680 kg) on centreline and two wing pylons | | Missiles | Option of two AIM-9 Sidewinder or ASRAAM on wing pylons | | Rockets | CRV-7 | | 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 has excellent maneuverability, and while it is not capable of supersonic speed in level flight, it can attain Mach 1.2 in a dive, allowing trainees to experience transsonic handling without the cost of a supersonic trainer.
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 T.1/T.1A The T.1 was the original version used by the RAF, deliveries commencing in November 1976. The UK ordered 176 T1s.
From 1983 to 1986, some Hawks were equipped for the short-range interception role. 88 T.1s were modified to carry two AIM-9L Sidewinder air-to-air missiles in addition to the centerline gun pod for a single 30mm ADEN cannon. These aircraft were designated T.1A. In the event of war, they would have worked in collaboration with Tornado F.3 aircraft, which would use their Foxhunter search radars to vector the radarless Hawks against enemy targets. Such missions would have been flown by instructor pilots. Conversions were completed in 1986. With the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, RAF Hawks are no longer tasked with this role.
80 T.1s 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 a level speed at altitude of 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  South African Air Force Hawk Mk.120 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.  A T-45 Goshawk landing aboard the USS Harry S. Truman
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), Air Force of Zimbabwe 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
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