Rolls-Royce joins BAE team for USAF contract bid

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Rolls-Royce has joined BAE Systems' in a bid to supply the U.S. Air Force with BAE's Hawk Advanced Jet Training System to replace T-38 pilot training aircraft.

As part of the team, Rolls-Royce will lead the support and integration of the Adour MK951 engine for the Hawk aircraft. The engine was developed by Rolls-Royce with Turbomeca of France.

"Rolls-Royce's extensive propulsion expertise, coupled with their lengthy relationship with the U.S. Air Force, makes them the perfect choice to integrate their Adour Mk951 engine in the Hawk AJTS aircraft," said Robert Wood, vice president of BAE Systems' Hawk Advanced Jet Training System team. "The selection of Rolls-Royce rounds out the Hawk AJTS team as we pursue the T-X program win."

Added Tom Hartmann, senior vice president of customer business at Rolls-Royce Defense: "We are delighted to join the Hawk AJTS team and bring our decades of experience to the program.

"The Rolls-Royce Adour engine has demonstrated success with 8.6 million flying hours and 200 engines already in service within the U.S. Department of Defense, plus hundreds of others in service around the world."

The Hawk AJTS integrates live and synthetic air- and ground-based elements to train pilots for 5th generation fighters such as the F-35 Lightning II and the F-22 Raptor. The British-made aircraft, already in use in a number of countries, would be manufactured in the United States.

Other members of BAE's Hawk Advanced Training System are Northrop Grumman and L-3 Link Simulation & Training. Northrop produced the T-38, which has been in service as a jet pilot trainer with the U.S. forces for over 50 years.