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Abbreviations

Royal Air Force Information  - RAF Aircraft - Hawk T1/T1A - Hawk T2 (128) Advanced Jet Trainer - r7a7 - Armed Forces

RAF AIRCRAFT

HAWK T1/T1A - HAWK T2 (128)


Hawk T1 at RAF Cosford Airshow

The Hawk first flew in 1974, and entered RAF service two years later both as an advanced flying trainer and a weapons training aircraft. It has an economical Adour engine an un-reheated version of the same turbofan powering the Jaguar.

Hawks are used to teach operational tactics such as air-to-air and air-to-ground firing, air combat and low-level operating procedures to pilots destined for the "fast jet" squadrons.

As a weapons trainer, the Hawk is armed with an Aden cannon carried beneath the fuselage, and rocket pods or practice bombs can be fitted to under-wing pylons. To fulfil its mobilisation role as a fighter aircraft, the Hawk carries a 30 mm Aden cannon and two Sidewinder air to air missiles, and is designated T1A (89 delivered to the RAF). The Hawk is a strong and rugged aircraft designed to cut training and maintenance costs.

Royal Air Force Hawk T1 of The Red Arrows Aerobatic Team

The Hawk has been widely exported as a trainer and single-pilot fighter ground attack aircraft – in numerical terms, by far the most successful British export programme since the Hawker Hunter.

By late 2012, over 1000 Hawks had been exported or ordered, including 189 for the US Navy under licence arrangements, in addition to the 176 delivered to the RAF.

The RAF has two types of the Hawk in service the T1/T1A and the T2. The T1/T1A remains in service with 100 Squadron and the Red Arrows with the current out of service date for the T1/T1A as 2020.

 

RAF Pilot progression to fast-jet training
2005-06 2006-07 2007-08
Applications to the RAF for pilot training 1,129 1,159 1,384
Completing Initial Pilot Training 121 133 148
Selected for Fast-Jet Training 46 54 46


HAWK T1/1A Specifications

Crew 2
Span 9.39m
Height 3.99m
Length 11.96m
Weight Empty 3,647kg
Max Take Off Weight 8,569kg
Combat Radius 556 km/345 miles
Max Speed 622mph/1,000kph at sea level
Engine 1 x Rolls Royce/Turbomeca Adour Mk 151 turbofan
Armament (T1) 1 x 30mm Aden cannon pack

Up to 5,600lb/2,540kg of under-wing stores for rockets, bombs and missiles
Armament (T1A) In addition has inboard pylons for Sidewinder AIM-9 AAM.
   
Note: Reports regarding the operational status of the Aden cannon are contradictory.


In service with:

100 Squadron

16 x Hawk T1/1A

RAF Leeming 

4 (R) Sqn

16 x Hawk T2

RAF Valley  (4FTS)

208 (R) Sqn 12 x Hawk T2 RAF Valley  (4FTS)

Red Arrows

12 x Hawk T1A

RAF Scampton

 

 



Hawk T2 (128)
 

The new Hawk128 - Advanced Jet Trainer selected as the next generation fast jet trainer for the RAF

In July 2003 the Hawk T2 (128) was selected as the new Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) for the RAF and Royal Navy fast-jet aircrew training. Aircrew trained on the Hawk T2 (128) will move onto operational service with Tornado, Typhoon and Lightning (from 2015).

Hawk T2 will be able to provide pilots in training with the all-digital, fly-by-wire experience necessary for pilots flying the latest generation of fast jets. There appear to be 28 Hawk T2 available for service with 24 in the Forward Fleet at RAF Valley. It is believed that 22 aircraft were delivered in 2009 and six in 2010. The in-service date of the aircraft was November 2009 and it is likely to be in service for at least 20 years.

Based on past evidence, for every 1,000 applicants to the RAF for pilot training, about 115 complete initial pilot training and of those, about 40 are selected for fast-jet training.

 

HAWK T2 (128) Specifications
Crew 2
Span 9.94m
Height 3.98m
Length 12.43m
Service Ceiling 13,565m
Range 2,520km
Max Speed 638mph/1,028kph
Engine 6,500lb Rolls Royce Ardour 951 turbofan

Photo 1 & 2 Copyright Alasdair Taylor, Photo 3 Copyright BAe Systems