Patria to Upgrades Finnish AF's Hawk Mk66 Jet Trainers

(January 14, 2010) -- Patria Aviation Oy received an order from the Finnish Air Force for a cockpit and avionics upgrade of 18 BAES Hawk Mk66 jet trainers on 31 December 2009. The upgrade is similar to the one ordered earlier for Mk51 and Mk51A trainers. Additionally, actions to maintain and return the stored aircraft fleet to flight condition are included. The total value of the order is approximately EUR 40 million. The upgraded trainers will be delivered during 2010 -2013.

Patria makes the necessary software upgrades itself thus creating an extensive domestic software maintenance and development competence for the entire life-span of the Hawk fleet. The avionics system is delivered by CMC Electronics Inc.

The Finnish Air Force and Patria agreed on the system modernisation of the Hawk jet trainers in December 2006 in order to further increase the quality of fighter pilot training by creating mission planning, recording and debriefing capabilities. The first Hawk jet trainer modernised by Patria with the modern avionics and a glass cockpit successfully performed its first flight in September 2008. The first upgraded Mk51, ordered in 2008, was delivered to the customer in Paris Air Show in June 2009. Currently the Finnish Air Force has received five upgraded Hawks.

In 2007 the Finnish Air Force purchased 18 used, low-hour BAES Hawk Mk66 jet trainers from Switzerland. The trainers are similar to the Finnish Hawk Mk51 and Mk51A aircraft. The Mk66 jet flew for the first time in Finland in September 2009.

Patria has maintained the Finnish Hawks during their entire life-span as well as performed significant modification projects. The Finnish Air Force and Patria are together surveying possibilities to offer pilot training also to foreign pilots in the Kauhava, Finland based training centre as well as possibilities to sell the excess Hawk trainers to foreign customers.

Source : Patria Oyj - click here for more information