BAE completes Indian Hawk aircraft delivery

Bangalore, Nov 6 : After completing the flight development contract for the Indian Air Force (IAF), BAE Systems has delivered the 24th and final UK built Indian Hawk.

In a major contract for trainer aircraft, IAF had ordered 66 Hawks, out of which 24 were delivered in ready to fly condition by the BAE. The remaining 42 would be built by the public-sector Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), according to BAE press release here today.

After a 4800 KM journey across Europe, Africa and West Asia the aircraft, flown by BAE Systems test pilots, arrived safely at the Air Force Station in Bidar to join the fleet.

The aircraft, HT001, the first IAF Hawk to be built has, for nearly three years, served as a flight test platform and proving ground for the integration of new systems and capabilities onto the IAF Hawk fleet, the press release said.

Michael Christie, senior vice president, India for BAE Systems Military Air Solutions, said, ''Hawk has brought about a marked change in pilot training capabilities for the IAF and this aircraft, which was the first Indian Hawk to be built, has played a key role in developing further capabilities for IAF.

He said at the BAE Systems, HT001 had proven to be extremely reliable, delivering excellent results as a training platform for IAF instructors.

In arriving at Air Force Station in Bidar, home of the Indian Hawk fleet, HT001, the 860th Hawk delivered across the globe.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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