The newly-assembled Hawk New Development Aircraft (HNDA) will be transferred to South Africa in 2003, BAE Systems said on Monday.

The HNDA would be transferred to the SA Air Force's Test Flight Development Centre at Bredasdorp near Cape Town early next year, said Linden Birns, BAE Systems spokesman in South Africa. He said the HNDA, a military aircraft to be used in flight trials for 24 Hawks the South African government ordered as part of the controversial arms deal, would be fitted with a full Adour 951 standard engine for the remainder of the flight test programme.

This followed the completion of final assembly and ground testing the HNDA in Warton, Britain. BAE Systems is a company that designs, manufactures and supports military aircraft, surface ships, submarines, space systems, radar, avionics, communications, electronics, guided weapon systems and a range of other defence products.

With acknowledgement to Sapa.