Hawk Jet Trainer Modernized by Patria Flew Successfully

Released on Tuesday, September 30, 2008

The first Hawk jet trainer modernised by Patria with a glass cockpit has successfully performed its first flight in J�ms�, Finland. The Finnish Air Force and Patria agreed on upgrade of Hawks in December 2006, the Finnish Air Force has announced to upgrade altogether 30 aircraft.

The upgrade aims to further increase the quality of fighter training by the modern avionics and glass cockpits as well as by creating mission planning, recording and debriefing capabilities. These modernisations improve training efficiency and enable the Hawks' use in certain training purposes in which Hornet interceptors now have been used.

"The renewed aircraft further enhance the possibilities to offer high-quality pilot training not only to the Finnish military pilots but also to foreign pilots in the Kauhava based training centre in the future. The Hawk modernisation itself has also raised international interest", states Executive Vice President Jukka Holkeri from Patria.

The Finnish Air Force has 49 BAe Hawk Mk51/51A jet trainers of which majority have been assembled by Patria in 1980-1985. The FiAF purchased 18 Hawk Mk66 aircraft from Switzerland in 2007. Patria has maintained the Finnish Hawks during their entire life-span as well as performed significant modification projects.