The Prime Minister’s confirmation of the replacement of the Hawk T2, signals a bright future for the UK’s Fast Jet Training Programme.
Sir Keir Starmer was asked about the replacement of the Hawk training aircraft during a recent visit to RAF Valley. He told BFBS Forces News: “I do think it’s right that we upgrade them – and that’s what we’re doing.”
The need to replace the ageing Hawks was identified in June’s Strategic Defence Review. As providers of the UK’s Fast Jet Training, through UKMFTS, Ascent fully supports the replacement of the Hawk T1 and T2 with a relevant and cost-effective Fast Jet trainer, that will enable the Red Arrows to display in a new capability, and transition Phase 4 Lead-in Fighter Training.
Optimisation of the current Fast Jet Flying Training pipeline will enable greater capacity to meet the needs of NATO, as well as allied and partner nations, baselined to 5th Generation training requirements. The SDR emphasised the critical importance of industry partnerships to deliver aircrew quickly and efficiently to the frontline.
Meanwhile, we are working closely with our military partners and suppliers to prepare for an exciting future, with a Hawk replacement and redesigned Fast Jet pipeline. We will do everything we can through our Agile Fast Jet Transformation programme, to extract the maximum capacity out of our Fast Jet Training at RAF Valley. This includes multi-year, multi-million-pound investment in the upgrade of the simulators on both the Hawk and Texan training aircraft, alongside new course designs and courseware.
Upgrades to the Lockheed Martin simulators, which we have been developing at Valley, have already received widespread praise from the RAF team involved and we look forward to building the future with both existing and new partners.
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