Will Be Exploring Future Possibilities For The Aircraft In India And Export Markets

BAE Systems will debut the Advanced Hawk, the latest development of the company's jet trainer, in collaboration with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), at the 11th Aero India being held this week in Bengaluru.

This fulfils the commitment made jointly by BAE Systems and HAL at the 2015 Aero India through signature of a Memorandum of Understanding to explore future possibilities for the Hawk aircraft for India and export markets.

Clad in Indo-UK colours, the Advanced Hawk will be on display at HAL's stand, together with a simulator showcasing the aircraft's new capabilities. BAE Systems will also exhibit at the show with a number of displays spanning the breadth of its capabilities, technologies and platforms.

Building on the success of the Hawk Mk132, which recently completed 100,000 flying hours with the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy, the new features of the Advanced Hawk enable training activities currently performed on frontline fighter aircraft to be undertaken on the updated air platform. The Advanced Hawk will reduce training demands on more expensive frontline aircraft, creating additional capacity for operational tasks, whilst delivering fast jet training in a more cost-effective, structured and safer environment. High commonality with the existing Hawk production and support infrastructure in India enables the Advanced Hawk to be manufactured and supported with maximum reuse of facilities, equipment and skills.

Leading the company's participation at South Asia's premier air show will be Alan Garwood, Group Business Development Director and Stephen Timms, ‎Managing Director, Defence Information, Training & Services.  BAE Systems India will be represented by Alistair Castle, Country Director and Nik Khanna, who has recently been named Managing Director.  

"The Advanced Hawk is a testimonial of our commitment to sharing technology, capability and knowledge to build advanced systems in India, for India, and from India," said Stephen Timms, ‎Managing Director - Defence Information, Training & Services. "Together with HAL, we are looking forward to show this industry-funded demonstrator to the Indian and other Air Forces and seeking their feedback on the combination of features that will better prepare student combat pilots for the demands of frontline aircraft."

"Make-in-India is the cornerstone of our strategy and Aero India is an excellent platform for us to engage all our customers and wider industry to explore new ideas for partnerships, whilst strengthening existing ones, such as our association with HAL and Mahindra," said Alistair Castle, Country Director - India, BAE Systems.

(Source: BAE Systems news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.baesystems.com