South Korea to train with Bell 505
The new helicopters will replace decades-old training platforms to train South Korean army and navy pilots.
Australia extends Hawk 127 contract for BAE Systems
Hawk 127 Fighter Jet at RAAF Base Pearce, Western Australia. (Photo: RAAF/Chris Kershaw)
The Hawk 127 will continue as the lead-in fighter training platform for the RAAF until 2031.
The Australian government on 21 February announced a A$1.5 billion ($1.08 billion) contract extension for BAE Systems, enabling the Hawk 127 to continue as the lead-in fighter training aircraft for the RAAF until 2031.
‘A 951 Adour engine upgrade for the Australian fleet will be incorporated by 2025 and will align the aircraft with the UK Royal Air Force’s T2 Hawk aircraft,’ BAE Systems noted in a statement.
The company will also carry on providing MRO and supply chain services, as well as progressive upgrades of mission systems on the Hawk 127.
Shephard Defence Insight notes that the RAAF fleet of 33 Hawk 127s was upgraded from 2014 to 2019, involving local firms and international companies such as CAE and Cubic.
Improvements included a simulated radar, EW, digital mapping, a ground proximity warning system and traffic collision avoidance.
More from Training
-
![South Korea to train with Bell 505]()
-
![USAF ACMI pods to undergo encryption upgrade]()
USAF ACMI pods to undergo encryption upgrade
Cubic is to install NSA-certified encryption for its P5 Combat Training System ACMI pods
-
![Production of Red Hawk is on track after first aircraft rollout, says Boeing]()
Production of Red Hawk is on track after first aircraft rollout, says Boeing
The first production-standard T-7A will undergo ground check and flight tests before being handed over to the USAF.
-
![Leonardo approaches Slovakia with M-345]()
Leonardo approaches Slovakia with M-345
While the L-39NG is having success across the globe, Leonardo’s M-345 trainer aircraft is added to the list of proposed solutions to replace the Slovak Air Force’s ageing L-39 jets.
-
![Team Fisher begins operating RN MCTS]()
Team Fisher begins operating RN MCTS
The launch of the new Maritime Composite Training System is a key step toward modernising RN training under Project Selborne.
-
![Pitfalls remain with giving Ukraine modern fighter jets]()
Pitfalls remain with giving Ukraine modern fighter jets
It seems appealing to fast-track pilot training by conducting most flights on simulators and omitting certain procedures if the West were to give more modern aircraft for Ukraine’s air force, but it might prove challenging in practice.
