Will Market New Cockpit AvionicsFor Hawk Mk50/60, 100 Series Aircraft

CMC Electronics has signed a teaming agreement with Patria Aviation of Finland for the exclusive marketing of cockpit avionics upgrades of BAE Systems Hawk Mk50/60 and 100 series trainer aircraft. The upgrades will be offered to existing Hawk Mk50/60 and 100 series operators.

Patria is a strategic partner with the Finnish Air Force in the assembly, maintenance, logistics support, systems development, simulator upgrade and avionics integration of their military aircraft. CMC representatives tell ANN Patria has extensive knowledge and capabilities to perform modifications to the Hawk Mk50 and Mk60 series aircraft.

Patria has a leading role in the marketing and sales of Hawk training for foreign military customers both at the Nordic Pilot Training Centre at Kauhava Air Force Base or at a military customer's own training bases. The aircraft utilized include upgraded glass cockpit Hawk jet trainers.

The glass cockpit avionics upgrades offered will include the replacement of existing analogue instruments or digital equipment with CMC Electronics' flexible, scalable combination of Head-Up Display, Mission Computer, 5x7 inch Multi Function Displays, Up Front Control Panels, HUD repeater for the rear seat instructor, INS/GPS, air data computer, digital data recorder, full operational flight program software, including live and simulated weapon delivery, and embedded training.

"The upgrades offered will use CMC Electronics' glass cockpit avionics together with Patria's training services and Hawk aircraft capabilities to offer a complete solution for customers' training needs," said Jean-Pierre Mortreux, president and CEO, CMC Electronics.

CMC Electronics' Cockpit 4000 glass cockpit avionics were selected by Patria for its upgrade of 15 BAE Systems Hawk trainers for the Finnish Air Force in February 2007. The upgrade aims to further increase the quality of flight training, by improving the Hawk jet trainers' training efficiency and extending the training that is currently carried out on Hawk aircraft.

Patria currently supports a fleet of 67 BAE Systems Hawks for the Finnish Air Force, the majority of which were assembled by Patria. Patria also has responsibility for maintaining the Hawks during their in service life as well as performing modifications.

FMI: www.cmcelectronics.ca, www.patria.fi