Rolls-Royce joins BAE Systems’ Hawk AJTS team

Rolls-Royce has joined the BAE Systems’ Hawk Advanced Jet Training System (AJTS) team to compete for the US Air Force’s (USAF’s) T-X programme. The programme aims to replace the USAF’s aging T-38 trainer jets and related training systems.

Under the teaming agreement, Rolls-Royce will lead the support and integration of the Adour Mk951 engine on the Hawk AJTS aircraft.

Robert Wood, vice president,BAE Systems’ Hawk AJTS team, said: ‘Rolls-Royce’s extensive propulsion expertise, coupled with their lengthy relationship with the USAF, makes them the perfect choice to integrate their Adour Mk951 engine in the Hawk AJTS aircraft. The selection of Rolls-Royce rounds out the Hawk AJTS team as we pursue the T-X programme win.’

Tom Hartmann, senior vice president of customer business, Rolls-Royce Defense, added: ‘We are delighted to join the Hawk AJTS team and bring our decades of experience to the programme. The Rolls-Royce Adour engine has demonstrated success with 8.6 million flying hours and 200 engines already in service within the US Department of Defense, plus hundreds of others in service around the world. The Hawk AJTS is the affordable, low-risk option, offering proven performance to the USAF.’

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 BAE Systems team also includes Northrop Grumman and L-3 Link Simulation & Training.

In January General Dynamics and Alenia Aermacchi announced that they would join forces and compete for the programme with an offering built around the Alenia Aermacchi T-100. A Boeing-Saab team and a Lockheed Martin-KAI are also expected to offer solutions for the programme.