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T-45 Goshawks
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In 1981, the T45TS beat out the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet in a bid to replace two US Navy training aircraft (the TA-4J Skyhawk and T-2C Buckeye). The system trains U.S. Navy and Marine Corps pilots for conversion into the F/A-18A-D Hornet, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the AV-8B Harrier II Plus, and the EA-6B Prowler.

DID covers offers some background regarding the US Navy’s T45TS and its performance, along with information regarding a pair of support contracts for this system worth $153.3 million that were recently issued by the Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, MD…

History & Background

T45TS Simulator
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In 1981, the T45TS beat out the Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet in a bid to replace two US Navy training aircraft (the TA-4J Skyhawk and T-2C Buckeye). The system trains U.S. Navy and Marine Corps pilots for conversion into the F/A-18A-D Hornet, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the AV-8B Harrier II Plus, and the EA-6B Prowler. It will also serve as a lead-in fighter trainer (LIFT) aircraft to future platforms like the Super Hornet derivative EA-18G Growler and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter variants.

The T-45 Training System, or T45TS, is more integrated than past systems. The system includes the T-45 Goshawk aircraft, advanced flight simulators, computer-assisted instructional programs, a computerized training integration system, and a contractor logistics support package. The combined value of all five integrated elements produces a superior pilot in less time and at lower cost than previous training systems.

Goshawks come in two variants: the T-45A and T-45C. What distinguishes them is the “Cockpit 21” digital avionics in the C variant. Indeed, the aircraft have been equipeed with a new open systems design MDP that manages the avionics and the displays in the aircraft. Approximately 80% of the MDP’s software and circuit card assemblies were reused from the F/A-18E/F Advanced Mission Computer, making project development faster and less expensive and improving commonality with the advanced aircraft the Goshawks train their pilots to fly.

T-45s are currently based at NAS Kingsville, TX and NAS Meridian, MS. The aircraft are permanently based ashore and flown out to the training carrier for deck landings.

Since the transition to the T-45, performance has indeed improved. he training task has been accomplished with 25% fewer flying hours, using 42% fewer aircraft and 46% fewer personnel. Overall, the T45TS has enabled the U.S. Navy to reduce student flight time by 13% and the average training time by 17 weeks for each student pilot. Even so, with the current T-45 training demand the U.S. Navy has been averaging more than 60 hours per month per airframe – one of the highest utilization rates in the world.

A number of air forces around the world also use the BAE Systems Hawk trainer in a reserve or even front-line role as a light attack aircraft. The US Navy could do so, but has no such plans.

Contracts

Learning to fly
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L3 Communications Vertex Aerospace LLC in Madison, MS received an estimated value $90.8 million modification to a previously awarded fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, time and materials requirements contract (N00019-03-D-0010), in order to exercise an option for contractor logistics support for the US Navy’s T-45 training system. Work on this contract will be performed at the Naval Air Station (NAS) Kingsville, TX (53%) and NAS Meridian, MS (47%), and is expected to be complete in September 2006.

Rolls-Royce Defense Services Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., is being awarded a $63.3 million fixed-price modification to a previously awarded requirements contract (N00019-03-D-0012) to exercise an option for Power-By-the-Hour® logistics support for approximately 188 T-45 F405-RR-401 engines. Work will be performed at the Naval Air Station Meridian, MS (50%); NAS Kingsville, TX (48.94%); and NAS Patuxent River, MD (1.06&), and is expected to be complete in September 2006.