UK-Qatar Hawk squadron spreads its wings
The technology at the heart of Hawk has seen the aircraft enhance customer training pipelines for the front line fighter pilots of the future. (Photo: BAE Systems)
BAE Systems to support and train new joint Hawk squadron based at RAF Leeming, UK.
BAE Systems has been awarded a six-year contract to deliver support and training to a new joint UK-Qatar Hawk squadron.
BAE will provide qualified flying instructors as part of this contract, delivering both live and synthetic training to Qatari Emeri Air Force (QEAF) and RAF pilots.
The joint training squadron was first announced in October 2020, following the formation of a joint Eurofighter Typhoon squadron in July 2018.
Qatar first purchased nine Hawk aircraft as part of a £5billion contract with BAE, including 24 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft.
The purchase took place during 2017, as Qatar faced a blockade by four Arab states and undertook a military build-up. Relations have since improved between the states and in January 2021 the embargo was lifted.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer is the latest version of what is claimed to be the world’s most widely used advanced jet trainer.
Almost 1,000 Hawks are in operational service with or have been ordered by 18 customers worldwide.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Dubai Airshow 2021 News
-
![Dubai Airshow 2021: UAE to host ViDAR centre of excellence]()
Dubai Airshow 2021: UAE to host ViDAR centre of excellence
Will the ViDAR SCAR reconnaissance pod make an impact in the Middle Eastern ISR market?
-
![Dubai Airshow 2021: Horizon Technologies and Airborne Technologies GmbH team up]()
Dubai Airshow 2021: Horizon Technologies and Airborne Technologies GmbH team up
Horizon Technologies and Airborne Technologies to jointly develop BlackFish SCAR-Pods.
-
![Defence Insight - A400M for Indonesia]()
Defence Insight - A400M for Indonesia
The Indonesian MoD placed an order for two A400M aircraft in multirole tanker and transport configuration, according to the Airbus announcement on 18 November 2021.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2021: All relatively quiet on the F-35 front]()
Dubai Airshow 2021: All relatively quiet on the F-35 front
A planned $23 billion FMS package for the UAE has still not been fully approved, 12 months after it was first proposed.
-
![Spotlight on Dubai Airshow 2021 and global second-hand armoured vehicles market (Podcast)]()
Spotlight on Dubai Airshow 2021 and global second-hand armoured vehicles market (Podcast)
Welcome to Episode 46 of the third series of The Weekly Defence Podcast. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and more.
-
![Dubai Airshow 2021: Indonesia enlists A400M for military use]()
Dubai Airshow 2021: Indonesia enlists A400M for military use
As well as finally ordering the A400M, an aircraft Indonesia has been contemplating for some time, the Asian country has agreed to continue financing the KF-21 fighter programme.
