Hawk upgrades offered in Oman

The distinctive Hawk is in service around the Gulf and with the British Red Arrows. (Picture by Jamie Hunter)

Sources say the British company hopes to gain backing within the next few months to advance the project.

According to flightglobal, the proposals centre on an extensive modernisation to pre-100-series aircraft, and more limited capability enhancements to more recent production examples. The full package proposed for early-generation, "short-nosed" Hawks includes the overhaul of their analogue cockpits to introduce two multifunction displays and a head-up display. BAE showcased the new configuration with a cockpit demonstrator, and used Dassault Catia modelling to show how new equipment would be installed, adding just 50kg (110lb) to the nose weight of 60-series jets.

Users of 100- and 200-series aircraft can select design elements from South Africa's Hawk 120 and the UK's new Hawk 128, such as hands-on throttle and stick controls, new mission computers and embedded simulation.

Customers were given access to a 120-based demonstrator rig using real software supplied by Advanced Technologies & Engineering.