Foreign Customer Interested In India’s Combat Hawk Jet Trainer

India’s Hindustan Aeronautics is hoping to export combat version of Advanced Jet Trainer, Hawk aircraft besides using it domestically.

A foreign country has shown interest in the combat Hawk, PTI agency reported citing unnamed sources as saying Thursday.

“Such an aircraft, slower than a fighter jet can be useful for operations in forest areas and in low mountains,” the sources added.

HAL had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with BAE Systems for the upgradation of Hawk Mk132, development of the Combat version of Hawk for India and export markets and maintenance solutions for supporting Jaguar and Hawk fleet.

“Combat Hawk” involves fitting air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground guns besides rockets and bombs to the aircraft which is currently used as trainer aircraft for fighter pilots before they enter an actual fighter jet.

The aircraft has the capabilities to be used as a ground attack aircraft or for air defence. The aircraft is being produced at HAL under licence from BAE. The first aircraft was handed over to IAF in August 2008.

Production programme of 42 Hawks to IAF was concluded in 2011-12. Further, second contract was signed between IAF and HAL in July 2010 for supply of forty of Hawk AJT and associated equipment.

HAL is likely to showcase the combat jet trainer aircraft at the next year’s Aero India airshow.