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BAE Systems has marked the first year of its latest Hawk 127 support contract, stating that it has achieved “solid” performance in aircraft availability and fleet management.
“One of the hallmarks of the [Lead-In Fighter] Phase 3 project is its unified approach to management and execution between BAE Systems Australia and the Department of Defence,” the company stated. “As part of this [the Royal Australian Air Force’s] 78 Wing and the Defence Materiel Organisation are now co-located in BAE Systems’ Williamtown LIF facility.”
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The Hawk is expected to remain in service until at least 2026. The five-year Phase 3 contract, which could be extended to the same date, sees the company delivering deeper maintenance, engineering, full logistics and training systems support.
Andy
says:Time the Kiwis bought some Hawks, put some Force back into The Royal New Zealand Air Force!
Kris
says:Yeah, these fighter training aircraft would put the fear of god into the enemy Andy…….
Raymond
says:Kris, this isn’t such a bad idea. Hawks in NZ service would, as Andy says, at least put some force back into the Royal New Zealand Air ‘Force’, and they would actually have a jet-powered aircraft in their inventory again capable of carrying modern munitions and high-speed interdiction. They are capable of a lot more than just training pilots.
The Hawk can deploy a full range of air-to-ground weapons from seven wing-mounted weapon stations, from BDU-33 practice bombs to MK82 laser-guided munitions as well as short-range air-to-air missiles and has sufficient capacity to be capable of deploying future weaponry, together with a 30 mm cannon. Radar emulation allows the aircraft to carry out additional support roles as an aggressor or target.
Even if it isn’t a front-line fighter, the Hawk is still a very useful aircraft and gives the New Zealand government the option to project half-reasonable airpower.
Raymond
says:And to exercise my prophetic wisdom if I may… 😀
NZ’s T-6’s are now entering service; next step is some Hawks / M-346 or similar, then my bet is ex-RAAF Hornets after the fleet is withdrawn from service around 2021-22.
Voila, NZ has then reinstated its air combat capability!