BAE Hawk Marketing Refocused after Jet Trainer Eliminated in Singapore

By Chris Pocock

July 21, 2008
Defense

Although neither the UAE nor Singapore has yet chosen their new jet trainer, both have now eliminated the BAE Systems Hawk from consideration. They continue to evaluate the more modern Alenia Aermacchi M-346 and KAI/Lockheed Martin T-50 Golden Eagle.

These setbacks have caused BAE to refocus the Hawk sales campaign on upgrades and through-life support. Michael Christie, senior v-p of Hawk International, said that BAE could foster cooperation between existing Hawk users to upgrade their aircraft, including glass cockpits of the type found in the latest production Hawks.

Of these, BAE has delivered 22 of the 24 Mk120s to South Africa, and 12 of the 24 UK-built Mk132s to India. The first of the 42 to be assembled in India by Hindustan Aeronautics has recently flown.

The UK Royal Air Force is due to receive the first of its 28 Mk128s next month. Meanwhile, BAE has not given up hope of selling new Mk128s to Saudi Arabia as a follow-on to the al-Salam Typhoon deal.

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