The Red Arrows carried out a tour of the Middle and Far East from 11 November to 18 December with the Hawks in a revised livery; the white fuselage side stripe now has the words "ROYAL AIR FORCE" painted on it. The main stop-overs were in Dubai, for the Dubai Air Show, and Langkawi, Malaysia, for a major maritime air show called LIMA. Also visited were Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Islamabad, Delhi and Kuala Lumpur. Since the Red Arrows was formed they have carried out 4,000 demonstrations in 53 countries.
    The 2007 Hawk User Group (HUG) meeting was held in Cape town and attracted air and ground crew from 12 air forces. The objectives are to share experiences and so improve efficiencies and make savings through collaboration. Feedback to BAES will be used in planning Hawk developments.
    Brough's runway is to be re-commissioned so that Hawks can be ferried on their maiden flights to Warton instead of being broken down after final assembly for transport by road. Production flight testing, painting, customer acceptance and delivery to the customer will remain Warton responsibilities.
    The first Indian Hawk Mk.132s were ferried out to India in November. Acceptance of all 24 UK built aircraft is to be completed in March 2008.
    BAES Brough has completed its 1,000th Hawk-family wing. They have been making Hawk wings for 30 years and Goshawk wings for 20 years. Doesn't that make you feel old?!
    The first of 28 production Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT) for the RAF is in the final assembly stages at Brough. The two development aircraft are, in the words of BAES, "in the final phase of the development flying programme." The mission software to the production OFP5A standard has started qualification testing which is due to be completed early in 2008. Ex-Dunsfold test pilot, Paul Hopkins, is Project Director Hawk UK AJT.
    BAES has received a £54 million contract for the final batch of the 221 T-45 Goshawks currently required by the US Navy. The contract calls for the delivery of ten T-45C Goshawk fuselages from Samlesbury, and ten sets of wings, air intakes and fins from Brough to Boeing at St Louis, Missouri, for final assembly. In addition a £500,000 contact for continuing integrated logistics support to Boeing was also received. BAES. Boeing and the US Navy are working together preparing plans to develop the Goshawk to meet future US Navy training needs. During 2008 support will be sought from the US Navy 'top brass' and from the US political system for funding.
    A Hawk has been used to test BAES's Advanced Structural Health Monitoring System (AHMOS) installed in an underwing pod. An acoustic emission detection kit was able to pinpoint cracks in specifically designed dummy structures and to download a diagnosis when the aircraft landed. The objective is to avoid lengthy and expensive structural inspections which are often precautionary or find no faults requiring repairs.
    The Finnish Air Force is buying 18 Swiss Air Force Hawk Mk.66s for some 40 million Euros, about the same as two new Hawks. The aircraft have been maintained in airworthy condition since their retirement in December 2002.The Swiss bought 20 Hawks but one (U-1256) was written off and the first (U-1251) is being preserved in the Dubendorf museum. Only 17% of the Mk.66 fleet flying hour life has been used and Finland expects to keep Hawks in service until 2025-2027, their own Mk.51/51As having undergone a stuctural life extension programme.