Hawk

The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, subsonic advanced jet trainer and light attack aircraft. Originally the Hawker Siddeley Hawk, it was subsequently built by British Aerospace and BAE Systems, entering RAF service in April 1976. Over 1,000 have been sold to 18 operators, and the type equips the RAF's Red Arrows display team.

Development

In 1964 the RAF issued Air Staff Target 362 for a fast jet trainer to replace the Folland Gnat. The SEPECAT Jaguar proved too complex for the role, and in 1968 Hawker Siddeley began private-venture studies as SP 117 under a design team led by Ralph Hooper. AST 397 formalised the requirement in early 1970; the RAF selected the HS.1182 on 1 October 1971 and signed a contract for 175 aircraft in March 1972. Prototype XX154 first flew from Dunsfold on 21 August 1974, piloted by Duncan Simpson. The first export Hawk 50 flew on 17 May 1976. In 1981 the US Navy selected a carrier-capable derivative, the T-45 Goshawk, which entered service in 1994. By early 1998, 734 Hawks had been sold, over 550 to export customers. A contract for the Hawk Mk 128 (T2) was awarded on 22 December 2004, with first flight from Warton on 27 July 2005 and a £450 million production order for 28 aircraft in October 2006. Production at BAE Brough ended in 2020; licence manufacture continues at Hindustan Aeronautics.

Design

The Hawk has a low-mounted cantilever wing, tandem cockpit and an aluminium alloy fuselage of conventional string-frame construction. The rear seat is raised for instructor visibility, and both positions use Martin-Baker Mk 10B zero-zero ejection seats. The rear-mounted Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour is fed by wing-root intakes. The airframe is stressed to +9 g, with a +7.5/-4 g limit in RAF service. Dual hydraulic systems drive flaps, airbrakes, landing gear and flight controls, backed by a ram air turbine ahead of the fin and an APU above the engine. Maximum speed is Mach 0.88 level and Mach 1.15 in a dive. Single-seat models replace the forward cockpit with an avionics bay housing a fire control computer, multi-mode radar, laser rangefinder and FLIR.

Armament

All armament is optional. A 30 mm ADEN cannon is carried in a centreline pod, with up to 6,800 lb (3,085 kg) on five hardpoints. Weapons include AIM-9 Sidewinder, ASRAAM or A-Darter on wing pylons and wingtip rails, plus Umbani, Al Tariq and the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon. Finnish Hawks have carried R-60, AIM-9J and AIM-9M missiles, SNEB rocket pods and 12.7 mm gun pods.

Operational History

RAF deliveries began in November 1976, replacing the Gnat and Hunter. Between 1983 and 1986, 88 T1s were modified as T1A short-range interceptors with two AIM-9L and an ADEN pod, intended to work with Tornado F3s. Zimbabwean Hawks flew airstrikes during the Second Congo War in 1998–2000. Malaysian Hawk 208s struck targets at Lahad Datu on 5 March 2013. Export customers include Finland, Indonesia, India, Saudi Arabia, Australia, South Africa, Oman, Qatar and Canada.

Variants

• Hawk T1: Original RAF version, 175 delivered from November 1976.
• Hawk T1A: 89 T1s converted to carry two AIM-9L and a centreline ADEN pod.
• Hawk 60: Export trainer with Adour 861 and increased weapons carriage; basis for the T-45.
• Hawk 100: Two-seat weapons trainer with optional FLIR, redesigned wing and HOTAS.
• Hawk 200: Single-seat multi-role combat variant for air defence, anti-shipping and ground attack.