The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing T-45 Goshawk is a navalized version of the land-based British Aerospace (now BAe Systems) Hawk - specifically the Hawk Mk.60 mark. Unlike the land-based Hawk, however, the Goshawk is utilized by the United States Navy as a carrier-borne trainer. BAe Systems and McDonnell Douglas, the latter now serving as a subsidiary of The Boeing Company, have jointly produced the Goshawk trainer which serves both the US Navy and USMC aviation training programs. Despite its 1990s pedigree, the T-45 is expected to serve the American military well into 2035. To date, over 200 Goshawk airframes have been delivered.
The original BAe Systems Hawk - debuting on August 21st, 1974 - is used by Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Finland, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Kuwait, Malaysia, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Zimbabwe. These often retain their ground attack capabilities to serve as a cost-effective, dual-role performer. Finland became the first foreign recipient of the Hawk and the aircraft also forms the inventory of the famed British Royal Air Force's "Red Arrows" acrobatic team as well as acting as the primary jet trainer of the Royal Air Force proper. Switzerland at one point fielded Hawks beginning in 1992 but have since retired their fleet in 2002 and sold several to Finland in 2007.
In 1977, the United States Navy found itself probing for solutions to upgrade its existing fleet of aging North American T-2C "Buckeye" and Douglas TA-4J "Skyhawk II" jet-powered trainers with a modernized advanced carrier-based type. The next logical step became the formation of the "VTXTS" program in 1978 to oversee the requirement. British Aerospace seized the opportunity and forged an alliance with American-based McDonnell Douglas to promote the aircraft as a possible development. The USN took to the proposal and thusly awarded the joint venture a production contract in 1981 - this version of the Hawk to be a heavily modified form to fulfill the USN requirement for carrier-based operations.
The Goshawk has existed in only two major variants beginning with the base T-45A two-seat advanced jet trainer. These were originally fielded with analog-based cockpits consistent with the time. The T-45C was later developed as an upgraded and improved version of the T-45A series. Improvements included the introduction of inertial navigation and a digital cockpit. As such, the T-45C model now represents the newest Goshawk standard to which all previous T-45A models are being upgraded to via the T-45 "RAMP" initiative ("Required Avionics Modernization Program"). The T-45C began deliveries in December of 1997.
It is of note that the designation of "T-45B" did exist. This was a proposed Goshawk development that would have produced a land-based variant of the T-45A sans the inherent carrier capabilities. The initiative began in 1994 though any fruitful development on the T-45B was eventually halted in favor of more cost effective alternatives.
Externally, the T-45 series features twin seating for student (front) and instructor (rear) in a tandem arrangement. Design of the aircraft is quite conventional by any standard and sports a forward-set cockpit with excellent visibility over the nose and to the sides. The instructor maintains a commanding view up and over the forward cockpit. The fuselage is relatively short and sports two small, oval intakes to each side, aspirating the single engine mounting buried within the middle-aft fuselage. Wings are low-mounted with sweep along the leading edge and a straight trailing edge. The fuselage spine tapers down to form the base of the single vertical tail fin which is further complemented by a pair of swept horizontal tail surfaces mounted higher than the main wing assemblies. The engine exhausts through a ring at the extreme aft of the fuselage. The undercarriage is fully retractable and is of a tricycle arrangement. The nose leg retracts upwards under the cockpit floor while the main legs fold towards centerline. All landing gear legs are single-wheeled. An arrestor hook for snatching deck cables is fitted to the rear underside under the empennage base.
The aircraft is powered by a British/French Rolls-Royce Turbomeca F405-RR-401 turbofan engine (also known as the "Adour") delivering up to 5,527 lbs of thrust. Maximum speed is listed at 645 miles per hour with a range out to 805 miles. Service ceiling is approximately 42,500 feet with a rate-of-climb nearing 8,000 feet per minute.
As a dedicated trainer aircraft, the Goshawk does not carry any official USN inventory armament but can be fitted with ordnance loads in the form of practice bombs or rocket pods as well as external fuel stores for increased ranges. Beyond this capability, cargo pods may also be carried as required.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Maritime / Navy
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.
✓Training (General)
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).
Length
39.3 ft (11.99 m)
Width/Span
30.8 ft (9.39 m)
Height
13.4 ft (4.08 m)
Empty Wgt
9,833 lb (4,460 kg)
MTOW
14,081 lb (6,387 kg)
Wgt Diff
+4,248 lb (+1,927 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the McDonnell Douglas / Boeing T-45A Goshawk production variant)
Installed:
1 x Rolls-Royce Turbomeca F405-RR-401 turbofan developing 5,527lb of thrust.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the McDonnell Douglas / Boeing T-45A Goshawk production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
Capable of carrying practice bombs, rocket pods, and fuel tanks as well as a crew equipment cargo pod.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 3
T-45A - Initial Production Model Designation; base trainer.
T-45B - Proposed land-based T-45A version for use by the USN; since abandoned.
T-45C - Based on T-45A with revised glass cockpit and improvements throughout; currently the standardized Goshawk.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Front right side view of a T-45 Goshawk trainer coming in for a landing
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Rear left side view of a T-45 Goshawk on a carrier deck
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Front view of an incoming T-45 Goshawk trainer
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Underside view of a T-45 Goshawk passing overhead; note undercarriage arrangement
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Close-up detail view of the nose assembly and nose landing gear leg of a T-45 Goshawk
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A T-45 Goshawk comes in for a landing; note arrestor hook
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Left underside view of a banking T-45 Goshawk
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Front left side view of a T-45 Goshawk in flight
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Front left side view of a T-45 Goshawk coming in for a landing
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A flight ofT-45 Goshawk trainers in formation
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High-angled left side view of a US Marine T-45 Goshawk
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High-angled right side rear view of a US Marine T-45 Goshawk
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Front underside view of an incoming T-45 Goshawk
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High-angled left side front view of a T-45 Goshawk at rest
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Rear view of the T-45 Goshawk; note engine exhaust
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