Celebrating 35 Years of Hawk Operations in the Finnish Air Force
Patria and BAE Systems are to jointly celebrate a major milestone with the Finnish Air Force as the country marks 35 years of successful operation of the Hawk military jet trainer.
Since 1980, the Finnish Air Force has used Hawk aircraft to train the very best pilots for its front line squadrons and the Midnight Hawks Aerial Display Team. Both BAE Systems and Patria have supported the Hawks throughout their service in Finland and, as this important milestone is celebrated, both companies are continuing to look to Hawk’s future in the country to help meet the most modern pilot training demands.
The partnership has produced a number of cost-efficiencies and life-cycle improvements to Finnish Hawks in recent years. Patria’s world class support services have helped the customer reduce their costs by predicting and preventing fatigue issues, while co-operation with the Finnish Air Force has seen continual modification and upgrade work to extend the life-cycle of the aircraft until the mid-2030s.
A Finnish Hawk History
Designed and manufactured by BAE Systems, Hawk first entered Finnish service with four British-built aircraft, followed by 46 assembled by Patria in Finland. In 1993, the Finnish Air Force ordered an additional batch of seven Hawk Mk 51As. The hard-flown Hawks were subjected to an extensive structural reinforcement program that was completed in Finland during the late 1990s by Patria.
Finland further added to its Hawk fleet in 2007 by sourcing 18 low-hour Mk 66s from Switzerland which entered service after a successful modification and upgrade work by Patria, completed in 2011−2013. Now the entire Hawk fleet, including 24 Hawks with upgraded cockpits, stands ready to continue its service to the Finnish Air Force for many years to come.
Chris Boardman, Managing Director, Military Air and Information, at BAE Systems, said: “We are proud to recognise 35 years of successful co-operation with the Finnish Air Force and Patria on the world-leading Hawk aircraft. The technology in Hawk has delivered a seamless transition from basic training to the front-line for air force pilots across the globe and it is a source of immense pride for us that Finland continues to deliver its very best fast jet pilots using Hawk.
“The upgrades carried out by Patria through the partnership have ensured the life-cycle of the Hawk fleet has been extended and it will remain the Finnish Air Force’s training platform of choice. As we mark this milestone, we look forward to working with our partners at the Finnish Air Force and Patria for many years to come.”
Jukka Holkeri, Chief Strategy Officer for Patria, said: “Our mission is to let our customers focus on their core operations as we concentrate on maintaining the utmost high operational readiness and mission capability of their aircraft fleet. Patria’s structural analysis and repair capabilities were applied with great success to a life extension programme of the Finnish Air Force Hawk Mk51 fleet.
“Maintenance is Patria's core know-how area. The Aeronautical Engineering capabilities cover a wide variety of services from damage and repair analysis to design of preventive modifications and structural health monitoring programmes.”
Notes to Editors
More about Patria’s support services
Patria produces life-cycle support to the Finnish Air Force's aircraft as a strategic partner, ensuring the operational condition for the duration of their scheduled service lives. The company’s mission is to provide the customer’s aircraft fleet with first class mission readiness availability in every circumstance.
Cooperation between the Finnish Air Force and Patria has created a support concept which produces cost efficient life-cycle support services, including the extension of the life-cycle of Hawk Jet Trainers from 2015 to the mid-2030s.
The use of modern analysis software tools guarantees Patria’s airframe structural repair design capability whether it comes to fatigue or accidental damage. Structural Finite Element Models are based on a complete airframe simulation loaded with integrated pressure distributions. Combined with accurate submodels, they are effective tools for managing structural issues, helping customers reduce their capital investment by forecasting and preventing problems associating with aeronautical fatigue.
Patria is committed to the continuing co-operation with the Finnish Air Force, the co-operation dating back several decades. The company’s long history and solid know-how guarantees a commitment to developing the aviation industry.
In more than 80 years the Company has designed 19 military aircraft types from primary trainers to first line fighters and manufactured almost 1,000 aircraft. The Company applies this heritage and in-depth knowledge to maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). Patria’s portfolio covers routine MRO of Hornet F/A-18 C/D, Hawk Mk51/51A and Mk66, CASA C-295M and Fokker F27 as well as Vinka and Redigo aircraft with an annual production output more than 150 overhauled and/or repaired aircraft.
More about BAE Systems
BAE Systems is a global defence, aerospace and security company employing around 88,200 people worldwide. The Company’s wide-ranging products and services cover air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology, and support services.
Hawk is the worlds most proven and successful fast jet trainer aircraft with around 1,000 aircraft and in operation in 18 countries.
Hawk is just one of a number of BAE Systems products in service in Finland. In 2010, the Company was awarded a contract to provide a Link 16 network management system to the Finnish Air Force. Supporting the operation of Finland's F/A-18 aircraft, the system enables ground command and control operators to connect to, and maintain contact with, their fast jets across the entire country.
