The Indian Navy on Monday received its very first Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer, becoming the third naval Hawk operator after the U. S. Navy and the U. K. Royal Navy.

Pradeep K Chatterjee, Vice Admiral & Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, received the documents of the advanced Hawk Mk 132 aircraft during a special event at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd's (HAL's) Aircraft Division.

The HAL-built Hawk Mk 132 aircraft was the first of the total 17 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers that HAL will deliver to the Indian Navy in phases. In the first phase, the Navy will get five Hawks.

HAL Chairman R K Tyagi said in a statement that the company built and delivered the naval variant of Hawk aircraft within the predetermined time.

After handing over documents related to the Hawk to Vice Admiral Mr. Chatterjee, Mr. Tyagi said, "We built this aircraft in time and this is the first of the five aircraft to be delivered to the Indian Navy. The remaining four will be delivered soon."

Mr. Chatterjee said the Navy will work shoulder to shoulder with HAL for all current as well as future projects.

The order for 17 Hawk aircrafts by the Indian Navy is part of a contract for 57 Hawks, of which 40 will be delivered to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The contract was signed in the year of 2010.