Pretoria - South Africa's new hi-tech fighter-trainer jet has flown its way into the history books with its maiden flight from Johannesburg International Airport.

The first locally assembled Hawk fighter trainer, which is one of more than 20 that are to replace the South African Air Force's (SAAF) ageing Impalas, was acquired under South Africa's multibillion-rand arms deal.

During the 70-minute flight yesterday, South African test pilot Dave Stock and Gordon McClymont, test pilot for the UK aerospace and defence group, BAe Systems, performed a battery of tests, including checks of the fighter's flight controls.

Denel Aviation, which assembled the aircraft, is building 23 more jet trainers.

The jets are to be used to train SAAF's fighter pilots for the country's newly-acquired Gripen fighter jets.

This is the second Hawk trainer to be tested in South Africa.

The first, built in the UK, is based at the SAAF's Test Flight and Development Centre near Bredasdorp, where flight testing of its navigation and combat training systems is being carried out.

The navigation and combat training systems were designed by South African company Advanced Technologies and Engineering.

BAe spokeswoman Laverne Machine said that the delivery of the trainers to the SAAF was on schedule and would begin later this year, with the deliveries being completed by the middle of next year.

She said that this fighter was to be based at Air Force Base Waterkloof, where it would be undergoing further flight tests.

With acknowledgements to Graeme Hosken and the Cape Times.