British Aerospace seeks orders for advanced Hawk trainer

British Aerospace plans to introduce an advanced version of its Hawk trainer aircraft, called the Lead-In Fighter Aircraft (LIFT), as a lead-in trainer for the Royal Air Force's Eurofighter. LIFT is derived from the company's work on Australia's lead-in fighter trainer program, for which the company won a contract in 1996. LIFT features an advanced cockpit design that incorporates a moving map display and three-color, multi-function displays. The company aims to capture a third of the trainer market with LIFT. The company estimates the new trainer market at about 150 aircraft a year through 2007.