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19 March 2024 Military Aviation » Deliveries » BAe/Sytems  
 


BAe

This page has information on the Hawk, Sea Harrier, Tornado and Typhoon.

        
 

BAe Hawk

One of the most successful jet trainers of recent times (although 2004 saw the 30th anniversary since the first flight), and the mount of the internationally renowned aerobatic team of the Royal Air Force, the Red Arrows, the BAe Systems (nee Hawker Siddeley) Hawk has also been exported to a number of foreign countries, including the US Navy! No mean feat, considering that a number of competing countries with an aircraft industry had a jet trainer to sell, not to mention the dominance of the US aerospace industry.

It was indeed fortunate for the Maltese enthusiast that several Hawks, destined for a number of African and Middle Eastern countries, passed through Luqa Airport on their delivery flight.
        
 

Hawk Demonstrators

Before, and during, the deliveries of Hawks staretd, a number of BAe demonstrators had arrived, either for trials, or on their way to a demonstration tour. These have now been moved to the Military Demonstrators page.
        
 

Export Aircraft

The following are all the BAe Hawks known to have transited through Malta on their delivery flight.

        
 
Abu Dhabi Air Force

Following hot on the heels of the Dubai order was one for sixteen aircraft for the Abu Dhabi wing of the United Arab Emirates Air Force. Also designated T.Mk.63, they are powered by the 2585 kgp Adour 861 in place of the 22 kgp Adour 851 of earlier export aircraft.

A more obvious difference lay in the serial numbers, or rather, in their absence, as these particular aircraft only carried Arabic numerals. It has been assumed, however, that all aircraft were delivered in numerical order.



SERIAL No. DELIVERY DATE NOTES
1001 05 Oct 84 Hawks 1001 – 1004 were accompanied by Indian Navy Sea Harrier FRS.1, IN601.
1002 05 Oct 84  
1003 05 Oct 84 Crashed 15.04.89
1004 05 Oct 84  
1005 08 Dec 84  
1006 08 Dec 84  
1007 08 Dec 84  
1008 08 Dec 84  
1009 04 Jan 85 Departed on 06 Jan due to flight planning problems.
1010 04 Jan 85  
1011 29 Mar 85  
1012 29 Mar 85  
1013 29 Mar 85  
1014 24 May 85  
1015 24 May 85  
1016 24 May 85 Crashed 24.02.87


        
 
Dubai Air Force

Designated T. Mk.63. Dubai Air Force Hawks operate from the Batin Air Base, the former Abu Dhabi airport, where students undergo training on Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainers.


SERIAL No. DELIVERY DATE NOTES
501 29 Mar 83 G-9-502
502 29 Mar 83 G-9-503
503 29 Mar 83 G-9-504, Crashed 04.09.90.
504 07 Jun 83 G-9-505. Crashed 04.04.86
505 07 Jun 83 G-9-506. Crashed 04.04.86
506 06 Sep 83 G-9-507. Crashed 18.12.91
507 06 Sep 83 G-9-508. Crashed 25.04.94
508 06 Sep 83 G-9-509


        
 
Indian Air Force

No further Hawk deliveries were made after the Abu Dhabi order was fulfilled. Kuwait AF Hawks started being delivered around August, but were not seen at Luqa, probably due to a change in the assembly line from Dunsfold to Northern England. Hawks started landing in Italy, thereby bypassing Malta completely.

After a 22-year gap, several Mk. 132 Hawks again used Malta as a transit point. This version differed from the previous ones in having an elongated nose, and what appears to be strakes along the wing tip.

The aircraft have been listed in alpha-numerical order, according to British military serial number.


SERIAL No. ARRIVED DEPARTED NOTES
A3481/ZK122 13.12.08 14.12.08  
A3482/ZK123 16.10.08 17.10.08 Call sign WTN116.
A3483/ZK124 05.09.08 06.09.08  
A3484/ZK125 14.12.07 15.12.07  
A3485/ZK126 28.02.08   WTN107
A3486/ZK127 11.02.08 12.02.08 Callsign WTN 105A/B.
A3487/ZK128 09.11.07   Written off on 29.04.08.
A3488/ZK129 09.11.07    
A3489/ZK130 14.12.07 15.12.07  
A3491/ZK132 01.02.08 02.02.08  
A3492/ZK133 08.05.08 09.05.08  
A3493/ZK134 28.02.08   WTN107
A3494/ZK135 11.02.08 12.02.08 Callsign WTN 105A/B.
A3495/ZK136 01.02.08 02.02.08  
A3496/ZK137 08.05.08 09.05.08  
A4398/ZK139 13.12.08 14.12.08  
A3499/ZK140 05.09.08 06.09.08  
A3500/ZK141 14.08.08 15.08.08  
A3501/ZK142 20.11.08   Call sign WTN116.
G-FRAD 20.11.08   Falcon 20 of FRA. Flew in in formation with A3501 above. Call sign WTN116.
A3502/ZK143 14.08.08 15.08.08  
A3503/ZK144 16.10.08 17.10.08 Call sign WTN116.


        
 
Indonesian Air Force

TNI-AU (Tantara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara -- Indonesian National Armed Forces) aircraft serials have a code prefix indicating the aircraft's basic role. Advanced trainers are prefixed with the code LL-. No.11 Squadron is equipped with the Hawks together with Lockheed T-33s, all based at Jakarta. They also differ from other Hawk export versions by having a smoke trailing devices installed for use during displays.

LL-53O1 was handed over to the Indonesian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, at Dunsfold, on July 10, 1980, and went into service with No. I Training wing, 11 Squadron of the TNI-AU, in September 1980. Their delivery flights to Indonesia were staged through Malta, Egypt, Dubai, Dabolim/Goa, Colombo, Medan and finally Jakarta, arriving there after 6 days.

To date, four Hawks are known to have been destroyed, including LL-5307 and LL-5308, which collided in mid-air over Indonesia, on June 17, 1981.

LL-5301 was flown for some time with an RAF serial, ZB618, while LL-5318, LL-5319 and LL-5320 were finished in the training livery of white/red/light grey scheme, as used by RAF trainers at the time. The previous seventeen were in desert camouflage. No.103 Squadron now operates all the Indonesian Hawks.


SERIAL No. DELIVERY DATE NOTES
LL-5301 01 Sep 80 c/n 312190 G-9-466
LL-5302 01 Sep 80 c/n 312191, G-9-467, crashed 17.09.81
LL-5303 17 Sep 80 c/n 312192. Lost on 10.08.83.
LL-5304 17 Sep 80 c/n 312193. Lost on 22.10.81.
LL-5305 19 Nov 80 c/n 312194
LL-5306 19 Nov 80 c/n 312195
LL-5307 06 Jan 81 c/n 312196. Lost on 17.06.81.
LL-5308 06 Jan 81 c/n 312197. Lost on 17.06.81.
LL-5309 10 Aug 82 c/n 312256 G-9-494. Camouflaged.
LL-5310 10 Aug 82 c/n 312257. Camouflaged, lost on 28.03.82.
LL-5311 19 Oct 82 Lost on 28.03.82.
LL-5312 19 Oct 82  
LL-5313 15 Mar 83 G-9-498. Cat 4 damage in 2001.
LL-5314 15 Mar 83 G-9-499
LL-5315 14 Jun 83 G-9-500
LL-5316 14 Jun 83 G-9-501
LL-5317 14 Jun 83  
LL-5318 08 Feb 84 c/n 312277. Lost on 28.03.82.
LL-5319 06 Mar 84 c/n 312278
LL-5320 06 Mar 84 c/n 312279


        
 

Kenyan Air Force

The first export versions of the Hawk to stage via Malta were the T. Mk.52s of the Kenyan Air Force, but only six aircraft, from a total order of twelve, passed through Malta. The Kenyan Hawk differed from other export models in having a braking parachute installed in the tail.

Kenyan AF serial numbers consist of four digits, with figures from 1000 upwards allocated to jet trainers.


SERIAL No. DELIVERY DATE NOTES
1001 Apr 78 c/n 312178 pi G-9-454. Lost on 11.03.88.
1002 Apr 78 c/n 312179, pi G-9-455
1003 Apr 78 c/n 312180, pi G-9-456. Lost on 26.02.82.
1004 28 May 80 c/n 312181, pi G-9-457
1005 28 May 80 c/n 312182, pi G-9-458
1006 29 Jul 80 c/n 312183, pi G-9-459
1007 29 Jul 80 c/n 312184, pi G-9-460
1008 28 Aug 80 c/n 312185, pi G-9-461
1009 28 Aug 80 c/n 312186, pi G-9-462. Lost on 11.11.88.
1010 06 Feb 81 c/n 312187, pi G-9-463
1011 06 Feb 81 c/n 312188, pi G-9-464
1012 06 Feb 81 c/n 312189, pi G-9-465


        
 
Zimbabwe Air Force

Zimbabwe ordered eight Hawks, to be operated by No. 2 squadron, to replace the Vampire FB.5's and T.11's which had reached the end of their flying hours. The first four were damaged in a sabotage attack a few days after their arrival at Thornhill. 602 was written off, 601 was kept in Zimbabwe for repairs, whilst 600 and 603 were shipped back to British Aerospace for repairs to airworthy status. These two Hawks are therefore in the unique position of having staged through Malta twice on a delivery flight.

Five additional Hawks, serial numbers 608-612, were delivered to Zimbabwe between June – September 1992, but these were not seen in Malta.


SERIAL No. DELIVERY DATE NOTES
600 13 Jul 82 c/n 312248, G-9-486. Second delivery flight on 17 Oct 84.
601 13 Jul 82 c/n 312249, G-9-487
602 13 Jul 82 c/n 312250 G-9-489. Destroyed in guerrilla attack on 25.07.82.
603 13 Jul 82 c/n 312251 G-9-489. Second delivery flight on 17 Oct 84.
604 05 Oct 82 c/n 312252 G-9-490
605 05 Oct 82 c/n 312253 G-9-491
606 05 Oct 82 c/n 312254 G-9-492
607 05 Oct 82 c/n 312255 G-9-493


        
 

Sea Harrier FRS.1

Purchased by the Indian Navy to replace the aging Sea Hawk.


SERIAL No. DELIVERY DATE NOTES
IN603 13 Dec 83  
IN604 13 Dec 83  
IN605 13 Dec 83  
IN651 27 Mar 84 T. Mk. 10, arrived with HS.125 G-BBCL
IN602 10 Jul 84 Aircraft departed on 11 July, but had to return due to oxygen trouble. It isn’t clear whether it was one or both aircraft, that had the trouble. Left later in the morning.
IN606 10 Jul 84 As above.
IN601 05 Oct 84 Arrived with 4 Hawks for the Abu Dhabi AF.
IN652 14 Apr 85 Arrived with HS.125 G-GAEL

        
 


Tornado

Although these aircraft did not land on the original delivery flights to the Saudi Arabia AF, an upgrade programme meant the aircraft landed at Malta’s airport on their way to/from the UK.

SERIAL No. ARRIVED DEPARTED NOTES
6611     Noted at Luqa Airport on 01.01.01, but unknown to the webmaster whether it was on its own, or in company with another aircraft.

Seen again on 14.12.06 with 6613 on their way to the UK.
6613     As above.
6612 13.12.07 14.12.07  
6611 09.05.08   Returning to Saudi Arabia, probably departed on the 10th.
7503   08.12.09  
6631 23.04.13 24.04.13 c/s WTN09. Carried Tornado Sustainment Program titles and UK military serial ZH917.

        
 

BAe Systems Eurofighter/Typhoons

Royal Oman AF

SERIAL No. ARRIVAL DATE DEPARTURE DATE NOTES
ZR406/215 05.02.18 06.02.18 Dusk arrival.
ZR407/216 05.02.18 06.02.18  
        
 


Qatar Emiri AF

SERIAL No. ARRIVAL DATE DEPARTURE DATE NOTES
QA406/ZR507 30.08.22 31.08.22 Both aircraft were single-seaters.
QA407/ZR508 30.08.22 31.08.22
        
 

Royal Saudi AF

30 years after Strikemasters and Hunters for the Royal Saudi Air Force passed through RAF Luqa, Eurofighters for the same air force again used Malta for re-fuelling stops.

SERIAL No. ARRIVAL DATE DEPARTURE DATE NOTES
ZK060/1001 24.05.09 25.05.09 Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA.
ZK061/1002 24.05.09 25.05.09 Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA.
ZK062/1003 25.08.09 26.08.09 Accompanied by BAe 146 G-TBAE.
ZK063/1004 25.08.09 26.08.09 Accompanied by BAe 146 G-TBAE.
ZK064/1005 15.10.09 17.10.09 Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA, which arrived on the 16th, departing on the 17th.
ZK065/1006 15.10.09 17.10.09 Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA.
ZK066/1007 05.10.09   Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA.
ZK068/1008 05.10.09   Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA.
ZK071/303 10.06.10 12.06.10  
ZK072/304 10.06.10 12.06.10  
ZK073/305 08.10.10 09.10.10 Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA.
ZK074/306 08.10.10 09.10.10 Accompanied by BAe 146 G-BLRA.
ZK075/307 25.11.09 27.11.09 A BAe 146 (c/s Tarnish 02) arrived on the 26th.
ZK076/308 25.11.09 27.11.09  
ZK077/309 09.12.10 13.12.10 Departure on the 11th delayed due to a Greek ATC strike. Accompanied by BAe 146, G-BLRA, which arrived on the 10th.
ZK078/310 09.12.10 13.12.10  
ZK089/321 25.04.13 26.04.13 WTN01B.
ZK090/322 25.04.13 26.04.13 WTN01A.
ZK085/317 27.06.13   c/s Tarnish 01A/B. Both aircraft performed two T&G’s before landing.
ZK086/318 27.06.13   As above.
ZK087/319 05.09.13 06.09.13 c/s WTN01A/B.
ZK088/320 05.09.13 06.09.13 c/s WTN01A/B.
ZK091/323 17.10.13 18.10.13  
ZK092/324 17.10.13 18.10.13  
ZK384/1009 12.12.13 13.12.13 Single-seater.
ZK388/1011 12.12.13 13.12.13 Two-seater.
ZK387/1010 27.02.14 28.02.14  
ZK385/1012 27.02.14 28.02.14  
ZK389/1014 16.05.14 19.05.14 Departure delayed because of problems with technical support BAe 146, G-BTAE.
ZK390/1015 16.05.14 19.05.14 Departure delayed because of problems with technical support BAe 146, G-BTAE.
ZK396/1016 07.08.14 08.08.14 c/s CTO15.
ZK391/1018 07.08.14 08.08.14 c/s CTO26.
ZK392/1019 05.09.14 05.09.14 Aircraft made a re-fueling stop, instead of the usual night-stop. c/s Tarnish 01.
ZK397/1017 05.09.14 05.09.14 Two-seat version.
ZK394/1023 08.12.14 09.12.14 FGR.4 version, c/s WTN01B.
ZK399/1021 08.12.14 09.12.14 Two-seat version, c/s WTN01B.
ZK398/1020 21.12.14   Probably a night-stop.
ZK386/1013 14.05.15 15.05.15 Night stop.
ZK393/1022 14.05.15 15.05.15 Night stop.

        
 
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