The first twelve of 33 Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighters have been accepted by the RAAF following BAE Systems upgrades to bring them to the latest, digital standard.
The first cohort from 79 Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce has commenced training, with the upgraded aircraft providing new capabilities including simulated radar, electronic warfare, digital mapping, a ground proximity warning system and traffic collision avoidance. The upgrade also includes the replacement of two legacy synthetic training devices with three full mission simulators provided by CAE.
Coupled with the CAE full mission simulators, [the upgrade] delivers a highly impressive Lead-In Fighter Training System
The Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the Lead-In Fighter Capability Assurance Program (LIFCAP) was recognised at a ceremony at RAAF Base Williamtown yesterday.
BAE Systems’ engineering teams in Australia and the UK, together with CAE and Cubic Defense Applications Inc, have worked closely with the Commonwealth to deliver this enhanced capability. Once modified, all 33 aircraft will be almost identical to the Hawk 128 T2 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) of the UK’s Royal Air Force.
“The upgraded BAE Systems Hawk aircraft provides the RAAF with a leading edge capability and, coupled with the CAE full mission simulators, delivers a highly impressive Lead-In Fighter Training System (LIFTS) that will ensure Hawk retains its effectiveness into the next decade and beyond,” BAE Systems Australia CEO Glynn Phillips said.
“The upgrade brings the RAAF Hawk up to the same platform capability as the most modern Hawk aircraft around the globe; allowing for future shared development and potentially shared cost, across multiple users.”
Acting Commander Air Combat Group, Group Captain Robert Denney said the IOC represented an important milestone in developing air combat capability and was essential for providing the quality and quantity of pilots and air combat officers for the Air Force.
“The LIFCAP introduces a major avionics upgrade to the Hawk 127 Lead-In Fighter, three advanced full mission simulators and operational support systems which will ensure that the LIFTS is capable of producing sufficient, suitably trained aircrew to operate F/A-18F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and F-35A Joint Strike Fighter aircraft.
“A mid-life upgrade to the Hawk was necessary to ensure its continued viability, to decrease risk to operational conversion output and to provide the LIFTS with adaptability to support the training requirements associated with the new platforms.”
The Hawk aircraft fleet embodiment upgrade started in 2014 at BAE Systems Australia at its Fast Jet facility at Williamtown, NSW and the fleet upgrade will be completed by early 2019.