BAE Systems has awarded a contract to L-3 Communications to develop the Hawk Oman Training System (HOTS).
Under the contract, the company’s Link Simulation & Training (L-3 Link) business will supply the HOTS, which will train pilots from the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO) to operate BAE’s Hawk MK166 advanced jet trainer (AJT) aircraft.
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L-3 Link president Lenny Genna said: "L-3 is very pleased that our growing relationship with BAE Systems has enabled us to add another world-class aircraft to the portfolio of platforms we support with advanced training solutions.
"We look forward to developing and delivering training equipment that will enable Royal Air Force of Oman pilots to sharpen their basic fighter jet skills."
The training system is expected to achieve its ready-for-training milestone during the first quarter of 2017.
L-3 Link did not disclose the contract value or its delivery schedule.
BAE is supplying eight Hawk AJT aircraft, which will be called the Hawk Mk166 during RAFO service, under a £2.5bn contract awarded by Oman in December 2012.
The agreement also covers the delivery of 12 Typhoon multirole combat aircraft and in-service support.
Deliveries of the two aircraft to Oman are expected to begin in 2017.
Powered by a single Rolls-Royce Adour Mk. 951 turbofan engine, the Hawk AJT features advanced simulation for radar, weapons and defensive aids training to realistically train pilots for operation on Typhoon or F-35 Lightning II aircraft.
To date, more than 1000 Hawk trainers have been sold to 21 air forces worldwide, including Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Finland, Indonesia, Kenya, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Switzerland, as well as the US and Zimbabwe, among others.
