RAF grounds Hawk T2 training jets following engine problem

All 28 of the RAF's Hawk T2 jet trainer aircraft have been grounded while the MoD investigates an engine issue. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has grounded its fleet of BAE Systems Hawk T2 training aircraft following a runway engine incident at the type's homebase in North Wales.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the temporary flight suspension to Janes on 26 January, saying the precautionary measure had been put in place pending the result of an investigation into a ground-based engine issue.

“Post a recent issue on the runway involving a RAF Hawk T2 engine, as a precautionary measure, flying has been temporarily paused pending the results of the technical investigation,” the MoD told Janes .

The RAF has 28 Hawk T2 advanced jet trainer (AJT) aircraft providing fast jet pilot training at RAF Valley on the island of Anglesey.

News of the grounding came around four months after it was disclosed that a fault had been identified with the Rolls-Royce/Safran jet engine of the Hawk T2. Answering a question in the House of Commons on 14 September 2022, Minister of State, Alec Shelbrooke, said that initial assessments suggested an impact on fast-jet training output for the next three years.