Hawk support set to make savings

Defence Procurement Minister Lord Drayson has awarded

a £74m contract to support the

and

fleet of Hawk T Mk1 aircraft, a move the

says will save £18m.

The contract will provide guaranteed and improved availability of aircraft while significantly reducing support costs, by drawing together previous multiple contracts into one.

As prime contractor, the MoD, the Royal Navy and the RAF will work with BAE Systems and industry partners Babcock Defence Services (BDS) to deliver the Hawk Integrated Operational Support (HIOS) programme.

Lord Drayson said: ‘This contract will transform the way we support Hawk and will guarantee aircraft availability for our training requirements. It is an excellent example of the Defence Industrial Strategy in action, with closer working between MoD and industry to ensure the future sustainment of this vital military capability. Today's contract with BAE Systems will ensure that this continues.

‘The Hawk has a superb training record, and The Red Arrows aerobatic team has provided the world with awe-inspiring displays demonstrating not only the aircraft's tremendous performance but also our world class pilot training. This contract is also good news for the British taxpayer, saving about £18m over the next four years.’

Under this programme, which delivers on the principles set out in the Defence Industrial Strategy, MoD brings together all aspects of Hawk T Mk1 support. This coherent partnering approach provides aircraft depth maintenance through BAE Systems' prime-contractor BDS at RAF Valley, Anglesey. It will provide the required aircraft for flying training squadrons across the UK. The Hawk T Mk1 fleet of 133 advanced jet trainer aircraft is the training platform for future fast-jet pilots in the tactics and weapons skills required in support of front-line operations.