Hawk AJT of IAF in flight development programme

Bangalore, Feb 16 (UNI) The first Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer, built by the BAE Systems for the Indian Air Force, has successfully entered the Indian flight development programme upon completion of its production flight acceptance tests.

Under a contract signed in March 2004 for 66 aircraft, BAE Systems would deliver 22 rpt 22 Hawk AJTs with the first batch expected in September this year and the balance 44 to be built by Indian Defence aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited at its facility here.

The latest export variant of the Hawk was developed 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.

HT001, the first Indian Hawk, made its inaugural flight in December 2006 and was being used as test aircraft for the second and third phases of the avionics developmental flight programme, with the first phase carried out on BAE Systems' own development Hawk, BAE Systems said in a release here.

Hawk Test Pilot Nat Makepeace, commenting on the next phase of development programme, said ''entering the flight development programme is an exciting time for any aircraft, especially when you are testing the capabilities pilots rely on to carry out the mission. The testing that HT001 will be undertaking will be crucial in ensuring the IAF receives the best possible aircraft to train its future pilots.'' HT001 would be used to test and develop key capabilities in areas such as navigation, radio navigation (VHF Omni Ranging (VOR)/ Instrument Landing System, and air-to-ground and air-to-air Tactical Air Navigation), radar altimeter, communication, identification, air-to-ground and air-to-air weapon aiming, and cockpit architecture and ergonomics.

HT001 would also be used to look at the proposed changes to the rudder pedal configuration that needed to be undertaken due to the differing footwear used by the IAF to the British Royal Air Force, on which the configuration was based.

In addition to all the flight development work that HT001 would be undertaking, various ground tests were also being planned. They included cockpit lighting and ingress and egress tests.

UNI