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Hawk trainers go on display

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Two of the British air force's Hawk advanced jet trainers will be demonstrating their capabilities at U.S. Air Force bases, BAE Systems announced.

BAE Systems is offering the Hawk AJTS as the replacement for the aging T-38 trainer as part of the U.S. Air Force's T-X program.

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BAE Systems, Inc. announced last week that it will prime this pursuit and Northrop Grumman will serve as the manufacturing partner for the new Hawk aircraft.

The Hawk Advanced Jet Training System is the most technologically sophisticated version of the successful trainer. More than 900 Hawk aircraft have been sold across 18 countries.

The Hawk has been selected to be the future lead-in advanced jet trainer for the F-35 for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. U.S. Air Force Hawk AJTS aircraft will be manufactured and delivered in the United States.

"We look forward to demonstrating the combined capabilities of the Hawk aircraft and associated ground based training systems to the U.S. Air Force and the public at large," said Robert Wood, vice president and lead of the U.S. Hawk Advanced Jet Training System Program.

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"Our Hawk AJTS offering for the U.S. Air Force will be a new variant of the aircraft with avionics and capabilities uniquely tailored to meet future (Air Force) requirements."

The Hawk AJTS cost-effectively trains pilots of next-generation aircraft like the F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor and the Typhoon. Using synthetic avionics the Hawk can emulate expensive sensor suites and cockpit displays, such as fully functioning radar. The system provides pilots unmatched airborne situational awareness and a suite of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons training tools.

The two Hawk aircraft and the Hawk Advanced Jet Training System Demonstration Trailer will be on display at Air Force bases in Texas and New Mexico during October.

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