Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which has conducted weapons tests with its license-built BAE Systems Hawk Mk132 advanced jet trainer, is looking at its export potential.

In May last year, the state-owned company had teamed up with UK-based defence major BAE Systems to upgrade the Indian Air Force’s Hawk Mk132 advanced jet trainers.

The Hawk is equipped with inertial navigation and global positioning systems, head-up display, as well as hands-on throttle and stick controls.

Hawk features

Sources indicated that the Hawk was chosen because, besides being a trainer, it also has capability in air-to-air and air-to-ground attack roles, though it is primarily aimed at training pilots in weapon delivery. HAL is looking to manufacture the combat version of military aircraft Hawk with an export potential, and has conducted some initial trials with rocket pods.

“Hawk could be fitted with the same weapons as the IAF’s Jaguars, which are being modernised. The upgraded Jaguar’s are to be armed with MBDA’s Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles (Asraam), amongst a range of smart weapons,” sources said, adding that MBDA Missile Systems, a European developer and manufacturer of missiles, delivered the first Asraam to the UK at the start of this week.

MBDA has also worked with BAE Systems to supply an Asraam air dominance missile to the US in January.

Sources added that the upgraded Jaguar is to also get the Textron CBU-105 sensor fused weapons. “The ‘Make in India’ programme does not mean just weaponisation, but can offer the Indian-made Hawk for export to markets around the world,” added sources.

At Aero India 2015, BAE secured a 5-year contract worth £18.5 million to provide HAL a comprehensive package comprising ground support equipment, and training for the Hawk Mk132 advanced jet trainer.

This was in support of HAL’s plans to establish a dedicated repair and overhaul facility for the aircraft, further to a major servicing milestone anticipated this year.

The package is meant to further develop HAL’s “in-country capabilities that are helping to deliver an enhanced training capability to the IAF and the Indian Navy”.

India is the largest operator of the Hawk advanced jet trainer with 123 aircraft ordered till date, of which over 90 have been delivered to the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.

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