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July 5 (UPI) -- The Royal Australian Air Force has begun flight training operations using the latest version of the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer. The Hawk AJT has received a number of digital upgrades and can simulate radar and electronic warfare attacks, BAE Systems announced on Wednesday.
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Australia's Hawk fleet is expected to be fully upgraded by 2019.
The Hawk will be the primary training aircraft for pilots of the RAAF's F-18s, its variants and the F-35 Lightning II when it enters service. Teams from BAE Systems, CAE and Cubic Defense Applications all participated in the upgrades, which included full ground crew training for servicing the aircraft.
"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 that will ensure Hawk retains its effectiveness into the next decade and beyond," Glynn Phillips, BAE Systems Australia Chief Executive, said in a press release.
The Hawk series of jet trainer aircraft has been in use with upgrades since its introduction in 1976. Nearly 1,000 of the aircraft have been produced, with exports to 19 countries. It is the primary jet training aircraft for the RAAF, Britain, India and other nations.
