Article Posted on : - May 27, 2015

The Hawk jet.

BANGALORE (BNS): Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) has signed a MoU with UK's BAE Systems involving the Hawk advanced jet trainers (AJT) and Jaguar fleet of fighter.

The agreement, signed recently, pertains to the upgrading of Hawk Mk132 advanced jet trainers, as well as for the development of combat Hawk for Indian and export markets.

It also includes maintenance solutions for supporting the Jaguar and Hawk fleet of aircraft operated by the Indian Armed Forces, an official HAL statement said on Tuesday.

While expressing confidence on the success of the proposed collaboration, HAL CMD T. Suvarna Raju, said: "It is important that both the teams finalise the scope of Hawk Mk132 upgrades and other work packages under the MoU agreement at the earliest."

The Hawk, designed to provide basic, advanced flying and weapons training, also has the capability to be used as a ground attack aircraft or for air defence roles.

HAL is producing the Hawk AJTs for the Indian Navy and Indian Air Force under licence from the BAE Systems. The first aircraft was handed over to IAF in August 2008.

The production programme of 42 Hawks for the IAF was concluded in 2011-12. A second contract was signed between IAF and HAL in July 2010 for the supply of 40 more Hawk AJTs and associated equipment.

The company said it has so for produced 25 aircraft and would be producing all the 40 aircraft by 2016-17.

Similarly, a contract was signed between Indian Navy and HAL in July 2010 for the supply of 17 Hawk AJTs and associated equipment.

HAL has so far produced 11 aircraft and would be delivering all the 17 aircraft by 2016-17.

In total, HAL has so far produced 78 Hawk jets.