Boeing/BAE Systems T-45 Goshawk
Boeing / BAE Systems · International (United States / United Kingdom) · first flew 1988 · fighter
The T-45 Goshawk is a carrier-capable jet trainer derived from the British BAE Hawk, developed with Boeing to train US Navy and Marine Corps pilots for shipboard operations.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.98 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Navalised Hawk with tandem cockpits
- Arrester hook and strengthened undercarriage
- Single turbofan with side intakes
It looks like a Hawk trainer but with tell-tale naval features: a prominent arrester hook, strengthened long-stroke landing gear and revised intakes. The tandem two-seat cockpit and single fuselage turbofan complete the profile.
Specifications
- The Boeing/BAE Systems T-45 Goshawk has a length of 11.98 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.39 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1006 km/h (625 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 (student and instructor).
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The US Navy selected a navalised Hawk to replace two older trainers, and the resulting T-45 first flew in 1988 after significant structural redesign. McDonnell Douglas, later absorbed into Boeing, teamed with British Aerospace, now BAE Systems, to build it. It entered training service in the early 1990s.
Variants
Early T-45A aircraft gave way to the T-45C with a digital glass cockpit for advanced instrument and weapons training. Ongoing upgrades added new avionics and simulation-friendly systems. All versions retain the arrester hook and beefed-up gear for deck landings.
Where you'll see it
Although flown only by the US Navy and Marine Corps, its lineage is firmly British as a carrier-adapted Hawk built partly by BAE Systems. It carries out undergraduate and advanced strike training including catapult launches and arrested recoveries. The fleet remains the backbone of US naval jet pilot training.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.