New Delhi, Sept 03: British Aerospace-made advanced jet trainer 'Hawk-115Y', 66 of which India today decided to buy for its Air Force, can fly at supersonic speed and can be used for combat. While top speed limit (never exceeding speed) of the aircraft is 1.2 times the speed of sound, its best performance speed is 540 knots at sea level, an Air Force officer said. (sound travels at a speed of 360 metres per second).
The two-seater trainer can carry weapons like 1000 pounder bombs, air-to-air missiles and guns and can remain airborne for just over two hours with full array of armaments.
The single-engine plane, which is costing the country Rs 85 crore each, has a maximum take off weight of about 20,000 pounds.
Bureau Report