The UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF) new Tmk2 Hawk advanced jet trainer (AJT) has completed 500 sorties and 500 flying hours within a year of its delivery.

BAE Systems delivered 23 of 28 Hawk AJTs to the RAF 19 (reserve) Squadron at RAF Valley in April 2009.

The Tmk2 AJT features the latest embedded training capabilities and can train pilots at the lowest cost when combined into an integrated training system.

Wing Commander Brian Brai said that the Hawk Tmk2 was set to revolutionise the way the RAF trains its future fast jet pilots under the UK military flying training system.

BAE Systems, which currently supports the RAF’s Hawk Tmk1 fleet at RAF Valley on Anglesey in Wales, will deliver the remaining aircraft by the end of this year.