A No 76 Squadron Hawk-127 conducts an aerial display at RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett

Hawk lead-in fighter upgrade complete

07/03/2019 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5660 Views 0 Comments

Minister for Defence Christopher Pyne today announced the completion of the final aircraft in a significant modification program for the Royal Australian Air Force fleet of Hawk Lead-In Fighter aircraft.

FILE PHOTO: A No 76 Squadron Hawk-127 conducts an aerial display at RAAF Base Williamtown. Photo by Corporal Craig Barrett.

Minister Pyne said the milestone was important in ensuring we have a world-class training capability.

“Completion of the aircraft modification program means the Lead-In Fighter training capability is well positioned to support Air Force’s fast-jet pilots for transition to the next generation of fighter aircraft including the Joint Strike Fighter, Super Hornet and Growler capabilities,” Minister Pyne said.

“The aircraft upgrades commenced in 2014, as part of a Lead-In Fighter Capability Assurance Program which also included the delivery of new flight simulators for the Hawk-127 fleet.”

The program was valued at $365 million and mainly completed by BAE Systems Australia.

Operated by Numbers 76 and 79 Squadrons at RAAF Bases Williamtown (NSW) and Pearce (WA), the Hawk fleet comprises 33 aircraft and is used to train qualified RAAF pilots on jet-fighter aircraft.

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