Cobham selected for new Indian BAE Hawk Trainer aircraft

Cobham will supply Weapons Carriage and Release equipment for the Indian Air Force Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer programme, under an GBP18m contract with Hawk manufacturer BAE Systems.

Cobham's Mission Equipment strategic business unit will deliver significant quantities of Light Duty Ejector Release Units and Carrier Bomb Light Stores (CBLS) training aids to BAE Systems between 2012 and 2014. Both of these systems are integrated onto a variety of platforms around the world and are already in service with the Indian Air Force following its first purchase of Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers from BAE Systems in 2004.

Cobham's contract award follows India's purchase of 57 BAE Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer Aircraft (AJT) in July 2010, to be built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd in India. Forty aircraft have been assigned to the Indian Air Force and the remaining 17 will be operated by the Indian Navy.

Iain Gibson, Vice President of Cobham Mission Equipment commented, "We are delighted to receive this order which will further strengthen our long standing ties with BAE Systems and the Indian Armed Forces, Cobham's largest export market. The ERU-119 and CBLS are established market leaders and continue to deliver consistently high performance and reliable service".