Hawk T2

Advanced jet trainer used by the Royal Air Force to prepare fast-jet pilots for the Typhoon and F-35, featuring a modernized cockpit with full-color displays and an embedded training system. It is the latest development of the Hawk family flown by air forces worldwide since the 1970s.

In service since 2009 · 4 operator countries

Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02

1,028

km/h

2,520

km range

13,565

m ceiling

3,085

kg payload

Procurement snapshot

Availability & export

UK export-licensed

Subject to UK SPIRE licensing (ECJU); generally available to allied states.

Channel: Government-to-government or direct

Fielded & proven

Established · 4 operators

In service since 2009. Status: active.

Lifecycle cost (est.)

No public unit price to model from.

Interoperability

No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.

Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.

Full specifications

Performance

Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.

Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance.: 1,028 km/h

Stronger than 61% of trainers
Max speed (Mach) Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.: 0.84 Mach

Stronger than 25% of trainers
Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.: 2,520 km

Stronger than 83% of trainers
Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.: 13,565 m

Stronger than 41% of trainers

Firepower

Armament, payload and guidance.

Hardpoints External stations for weapons and pods. More means bigger and more flexible loadouts.: 5

Stronger than 29% of trainers
Weapons payload Maximum ordnance weight the platform can carry. Higher means more strike capacity per sortie.: 3,085 kg

Stronger than 89% of trainers

Physical

Dimensions, weight and crew.

Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.: 11.35 m
Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span.: 9.94 m
Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles.: 3.98 m
Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.: 4,480 kg
Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor.: 9,100 kg
Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.: 2

Propulsion

Engine, power and fuel.

Engine Powerplant model and type.: Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk951
Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost.: 1
Thrust Total engine thrust (with afterburner where applicable).: 29 kN

Stronger than 77% of trainers
Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…: Turbofan

Sensors & avionics

Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.

Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights.: embedded training system, full-color glass cockpit displays

Program

Cost, production scale and operators.

Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.: 4

Stronger than 50% of trainers

Specifications compiled from public BAE Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.

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