WLLIAMSTOWN, Australia, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- BAE Systems Australia is to provide flight-line maintenance support for Hawk 127 training jets of the Royal Australian Air Force.

The flight-line services will be phased in beginning in October and come under a modification to an existing Hawk Lead-In Fighter In Service Support Phase 3 contract.


BAE Systems Australia will now provide total maintenance support for the Hawker fleet.

"By building on the unified approach we have with the Department of Defense to deliver Hawk deeper maintenance, our operational maintenance solution enables a more holistic approach to Hawk support that maximizes aircraft serviceability for less cost," said BAE Systems Australia Director, Aerospace, Steve Drury.

"This outcome is a testament to our people and performance over more than a decade with 78 Wing, 76 and 79 Squadrons and the Tactical Fighter Systems Program Office."

The phase-in schedule for the new support service at RAAF Bases Williamtown and Pearce will be completed by next summer and includes aircraft launch and recovery, on-site management support, and deployment operations.