Engineering news
The UK Ministry of Defence has committed £372 million across four contracts for the continued in-service support of Hawk fast jet training aircraft, securing about 700 UK jobs until 2020.
The fleet of Hawk TMk1 and TMk2 aircraft are used by the UK armed forces for military flying training prior to conversion onto frontline fast jet aircraft, such as Typhoon or the future F35 Lightning II, and for a variety of other Royal Navy and Royal Air Force training requirements. They are also the aircraft of choice by the Royal Air Force aerobatic team – the Red Arrows.
Five-year contracts worth almost £300 million have been awarded to BAE Systems to provide in-service support and post-design services for Hawk TMk1 and TMk2. The contracts include design advice and modification and obsolescence management, with the company using RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales, as its main support service hub.
BAE Systems and its maintenance partner Babcock have about 470 people based at RAF Valley, 65 at RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire and 55 at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall. It also has 65 people based at Brough in East Riding of Yorkshire and around another 20 across its sites in Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire.
Rolls-Royce has also been awarded a £79 million contract to provide support for the ‘Adour’ engines which power the Hawk aircraft, with testing, repairs and overhauls taking place at RAF Valley and in Filton, Bristol sustaining 40 jobs across both sites.
Air vice-marshal Sue Gray, director combat air at DE&S, the MOD’s procurement and support organisation, said: “These new contracts to support our fleet of Hawk fast jets sets the support service bar higher than ever before.
“Our partners, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, will provide through-life support, including maintenance and the provision of spares, while delivering cost savings and providing a high level of aircraft availability, all of which will ensure our future fast jet pilots have the right equipment to conduct their flying training.”
The support contracts will play a crucial role in providing a range of services to the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force’s Hawk aircraft at bases around the country including locations in Wales, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Somerset and Cornwall.