The United States Navy’s T-45 Goshawk is used for training operations, the principle aircraft involved in development. One such aircraft recorded over one million flight hours at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas.
Of course, its importance comes in getting the carrier operations masters ready for Navy and Marine Corps aviators amid ongoing discussions about its future.
The T-45 Goshawk is the tandem-seat, naval carrier-capable variant of the British Aerospace Hawk jet trainer. Entering service in April 1988, it has been a cornerstone component of the Navy’s pilot training program.
It operates in the intermediate and advanced phases of pilot training for both jet carrier aviation and tactical strike missions. However, in-flight engine malfunctions have already grounded its fleet twice within the last two years.
Training Air Wing 2 (TW-2) at NAS Kingsville marked this achievement with a ceremony that included the Chief of Naval Air Training (CNATRA), Boeing representatives, and local officials.
Capt. Aaron Rybar, commanding officer of TW-2 noted that this was an important milestone to be recorded because the first flight instructor class started flying in T-45A Goshawk on May 1, 1992.
On Feb. 26, 2024, Lt. Cmdr Thomas Cruz of VT-22 reached a one-millionth flight hour in a basic fighter maneuver event.
Although the T-45 has seen some success, there is little confidence that it will succeed in the long haul. The Navy has been exploring an Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) replacement process.
The three options under consideration are the Boeing-Saab T-7 Red Hawk, the Lockheed Martin-KAI T-50, and the Leonardo-Textron M-345N.
Unfortunately, none of these options is carrier-capable, and this has already pushed the introduction schedule back. The Navy further delayed the new contract award until FY 2028.
The significance of carrier air wings in projecting the power of the Navy was clear: Rear Admiral Rich Brophy, Chief of Naval Air Training. Further, he mentioned that while at the heart of training these aviators, the T-45 Goshawk has significantly contributed to the solid national defense anchored in the Navy.
The T-45C variant the Navy is flying is an improved version of the aircraft that added swept engine inlets to reduce the likelihood of compressor stalls and new oxygen systems to prevent hypoxia-like episodes among pilots. Still, after years of service, many recurring issues notwithstanding, the Navy feels compelled to replace the aircraft.
One of the main reasons for the delay has been whether or not the new UJTS aircraft have to be carrier-capable.
The design differences of carrier-capable aircraft are so immense that reinforced landing gear adds complexity and cost. At present, requirements for the Navy include unflared landings capability as one of the critical areas for carrier operations.
As the Navy continues to deliberate over its options, it will continue to have T-45 Goshawks as part of the training program, which is going to help future aviators prepare for carrier aviation.