The Indian Navy has received the first of 17 Hawk Mk 132 Advanced Jet Trainers, becoming the third naval operator of the Hawk along with th...
The aircraft is assembled at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) production line in India.
The 17 Hawk aircraft ordered by the Indian Navy form part of a contract for 57 aircraft signed in 2010 of which 40 are for the Indian Air Force. Among its 18 customers worldwide, India is the largest operator of the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer with 123 aircraft ordered to date, of which over 70 have been delivered to the Indian Air Force.
Adding to the Indian Navy’s fleet of aircraft, the Hawk provides the ideal platform for pilots to transition smoothly to the Navy’s frontline aircraft. Hawk effectively integrates air and ground based elements offering the most efficient and cost-effective method of training pilots.
The Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer is a dual seat multi-purpose aircraft powered by a single Rolls Royce Adour Mk.871 engine. The Hawk AJT is primarily used for basic, advanced and weapons training of the pilots. However, the Aircraft has the capabilities to be used as a ground attack aircraft or for air defence.
The Hawk AJT has excellent flying characteristics with good stability can be flown at night and can perform wide range of aerobatic manoeuvres. The aircraft can remarkably accommodate a wide variety of external stores.
The cockpit is arranged in an efficient ergonomic manner in order to provide a lead-in to modern front line aircraft. The cockpit provides an excellent field of view for both pilots. The instructor’s station in the rear cockpit has appropriate override control of vital functions.
The primary flight control systems are provided by means of an all-moving tailplane, aileron and rudder deflections respectively. The secondary flight control systems comprise wing double slotted flaps and an air brake on the underside of the rear fuselage.
