The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) officially unveiled its new BAE Systems Hawk T.2 advanced jet trainer (AJT) during a ceremony at RAF Valley last July 2.

The aircraft, six of which began arriving at the base in April, are the first of 28 T.2 aircraft, purchased at a cost of GBP450 million (USD736 million) to replace the incumbent Hawk T.1 as the RAF’s lead-in fighter trainer.

As well as advanced systems and a more powerful Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour 951 engine, the ‘glass cockpit’ of the T.2 is nearly identical to that of the Eurofighter Typhoon and similar to those of the Harrier and Tornado, allowing for an easier transition for students onto the RAF’s frontline combat force.

Flight Lieutenant Timothy Pye, a pilot with 19 (R) Squadron AJT Development Team, said that, although the T.2 is heavier than the T.1, the more powerful powerplant means that it has about the same thrust-to-weight ratio and so “loses nothing in terms of performance”.