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TAE Aerospace has confirmed an agreement with Rolls-Royce to provide in-country maintenance support services on the Adour Mk871 engine that powers the Royal Australian Air Force’s Hawk Lead-in Fighter.
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As part of the agreement, TAE Aerospace will perform in-country depot level maintenance and repair support services for the engine from its new Turbine Engine Maintenance Facility in Ipswich, Queensland, as well as periodic onsite Adour engine support at RAAF Williamtown and RAAF Pearce.
Rolls-Royce, as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), has the propulsion support contract with BAE Systems Australia to maintain the Adour engine for the RAAF’s fleet of 33 BAE Systems Hawk aircraft, which are currently planned to be withdrawn from service in 2026.
Rolls-Royce Adour MRO representative Garry King said, "We are delighted to now be working with TAE Aerospace. Australia is a key defence market for Rolls-Royce and linking with TAE Aerospace’s established maintenance repair and overhaul capabilities will help continue our support of the Adour engine in Australia. We look forward to working with them to support to the engine requirements of the BAE Systems Hawk aircraft."
TAE Aerospace CEO Andrew Sanderson said, “We are excited to be able to expand our turbine engine MRO capabilities to now include the Rolls-Royce Adour engine in our new Turbine Engine Maintenance Facility in Ipswich and increase employment opportunities in the region.
"Working with Rolls-Royce is another important step for our company as we continue to build our reputation as a trusted partner for all turbine engine manufacturers here in Australia. This also opens potential opportunity to attract business from other regional operators of the Hawk aircraft, such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Like all our existing services, we look forward to delivering our high-quality MRO services for the Adour engine in support of Rolls-Royce here in Australia until the Hawk’s planned withdrawal from service in 2026."
TAE Aerospace is a privately-owned aerospace company headquartered in Australia. It has operations throughout Asia-Pacific and North America and a global customer base. The company focuses on creating value for its customers in the commercial aviation and Defence markets through quality products and services in turbine engine and component MRO, aerospace engineering and advanced manufacturing.
The Hawk 127 Lead-in Fighter prepares qualified Air Force pilots for conversion to F/A-18A and F/A-18B Hornets and F/A-18F Super Hornets. The Hawk is operated by Number 76 Squadron at RAAF Base Williamtown near Newcastle, and Number 79 Squadron at RAAF Base Pearce near Perth.
Pilots complete a 14-week Introductory Fighter Course at RAAF Base Pearce with the Hawk, which includes general flying, instrument flying, formation flying, night flying and navigation. Graduates then progress to a 20-week course at RAAF Base Williamtown for air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons training with the Hawk. Only then can pilots progress to conversion to the F/A-18A/B Hornet or F/A-18F Super Hornet.
The Hawk is a low-wing, all-metal aircraft, fitted with a navigation and attack system, and powered by a single Adour Mk 871 turbofan engine.
Key features include:
- an avionics system integrated via a 1553 multiplex database;
- two display and mission computers which co-ordinate the display of information from the communications, navigation and attack sub-systems;
- hands-on-throttle-and-stick controls in each cockpit;
- head-up display in the front cockpit and Multi-Function Displays in each cockpit which present flight information such as aircraft performance, attitude and equipment status reports;
- ability to pre-program mission-specific data; and
- a Health and Usage Monitoring System that monitors and records equipment performance, aircraft fatigue and engine life data.
The Hawk 127 weapons and equipment system allows for the carriage, aiming and release, or firing of:
- practice weapons;
- conventional and laser-guided bombs;
- AIM-9M “Sidewinder” missiles; and
- a 30mm cannon.
The stores are carried on two wingtip missile stations, or mounted on four underwing and one centreline hardpoints.
The Hawk has been designed to allow for system upgrades to reflect evolving training requirements. Students attend major exercises such as Exercise Pitch Black in the Northern Territory as part of their training.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
