The British Aerospace Hawk is perhaps the most versatile training aircraft ever to serve with the RAF. As well as the Hawk's normal training roles, it can be fitted with AAMs, Rocket Pods, & up to 2567kg (5660lbs) of other stores. The Hawk has been exported extremely successfully, & is operated by Indonesia (20), Switzerland (20), Zimbabwe (8), Kenya (12), the UAE (24), Kuwait (12), Saudi Arabia (30), Finland (50) & the US Navy (300). The Hawk's success in the export market is largely due to its multi-role capability, fuel efficiency & low intensity of maintenance (the Hawk is the least maintenance-intensive military aircraft in the World.

The Hawk has a lot of competitors, though. The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet & CASA C-101 EB-01 Aviojet are major export aircraft as well, but are less popular than the Hawk due to worse performance & lack of the advanced features offered by the Hawk.

The Hawk, because it is small, light & manoeuvreable, equips the RAF's world famous Red Arrows Squadron, based at RAF Scampton. Their characteristic white arrow on red background colour scheme would be replaced by a more business-like air-defence grey colour in a time of war, like many other Hawks of the Central Flying School (to which the Red Arrows belong). The Red Arrows can be seen at major events throughout the UK, & usually participate in the Paris Airshow as well.

Hawk T.Mk1

Type: Two seat basic & advanced jet trainer

Powerplant: one 2,359kg (5,200lb) Rolls-Royce/Turboméca Adour Mk151 turbofan

Performance: Max. speed 1,038km/h (645mph); Service ceiling 15,240m (50,000ft); Endurance 4 hours

Dimensions: Wingspan 9.39m (30ft 9.75in); Length 11.17m (36ft 7.75in); Height 3.99m (13ft 1.75in); Wing area 16.69m² (179.64ft²)

Weights: Empty 3,647kg (8,040lb); Max. take-off 7,750kg (17,085lb)

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