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purchase a fleet of L-15 advanced exercises, ground school training, Over 1000 units of the Hawk have
jet trainers. The plan is to acquire and ongoing support services. The been sold to 18 operators around
an initial 12 L-15 aircraft, with comprehensive programme will be the world, but BAE Systems
options for a further 36. The L-15 implemented by utilizing a fleet of stopped production of the trainer
has two variants, one for advanced over 70 new training aircraft that in the UK in 2020. The jet is now
jet training and the other for lead-in include Grob G120TPs, Pilatus produced by HAL under licence in
fighter training. While student PC-21s, Beechcraft King Air 260s, India, but with the introduction of
pilots learn how to fly supersonic Airbus H-135 helicopters, and De technologically advanced fighters
aircraft and perform complex Havilland Dash 8-400s modified like the F-35, many air forces are
aerial manoeuvres on advanced for onboard mission training. The now looking at more advanced,
trainer jets, lead-in fighter train- programme will officially commence preferably multi-role, trainers. The
ing jets familiarize trainees with in spring 2029m, with training to be Hawk is popular in the Middle East,
combat manoeuvres and skills. conducted at Saskatchewan and with the trainer still operational with
The aircraft, which has a maximum Manitoba, with. the Royal Saudi Air Force, Qatar
payload of 3,000 kg, is powered Emiri Air Force, the Royal Air Force
by two AI-222K-25F afterburner The SkyAlyne initiative comes of Oman, and the Royal Bahrain Air
turbofan engines and has a service in the backdrop of the air force’s Force (RBAF). The UAE Air Force

life of 3000 flying hours. The air- fighter training squadron entering a and Air Defence, however, is with-
craft, which has been acquired by “period of hiatus” after the service drawing them from service.
Zambia, is also capable of engaging retired its fleet of BAE Systems The Next Big Thing
in ground and air warfare. CT-155 Hawk trainer jets in March
this year. The service will eventu- Defence analysts expect Canada
Bumper Contract ally replace the Hawks with a new to follow in the path of the USAF,

In May this year, Canada’s defence fighter lead-in trainer through its which in September 2018 selected
ministry announced that it had Future Fighter Lead-in Training the T-7 Red Hawk, the subsonic
awarded SkyAlyne, a partnership (FFLIT) programme. “With the advanced jet trainer produced by
between CAE and KF Aerospace, Hawk reaching the end of its Boeing with Saab, to replace the
a 25-year, CAD11.2 billion (US$8.2 service life after 20 years, Northrop Grumman-produced T-38
billion) contract to deliver the Canada, along with many Talon jet trainer. The initial plan,
Future Aircrew Training (FAcT) countries is faced with the under the US $9.2 billion contract,
Programme for the Royal Canadian was for USAF to buy 351 Red
Air Force’s (RCAF). SkyAlyne and challenges of what will be Hawks – with the option to buy
the RCAF will develop a compre- the next jet trainer in a world up to 475 - starting in December
hensive training programme that of fifth-generation fighter 2025, but the production timeline
will include classroom instruc- aircraft,” says Colonel Adam has since been pushed back due
tion, flight simulation, live flying Carlson, director of RCAF training. to design problems with the escape
ASIAN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY MAY - JULY 2024 | 13