The Boeing (former McDonnell Douglas) T-45A Goshawk is the US Navy's two-seat advanced jet trainer. The aircraft is jointly manufactured by Boeing and BAE Systems. The T-45A was selected to meet the US Navy requirement for an undergraduate jet pilot trainer to replace the TA-4J Skyhawk and T-2C Buckeye. The TA-4J was retired in 2003 and the T-2 will be retired in September 2004.The T-45A entered service with the US Navy in January 1992. From aircraft number 84 (first flown on  October 21, 1997), production switched to the T-45C variant, which features a new "Cockpit 21" with two 5-inch square monochrome CRT screens. The US Navy and Marine Corps have more than 160 T-45 Goshawks and a total of 234 is planned. The T-45TS pilot training scheme includes advanced simulators and computer assisted instruction as well as training flight programs.

 Several modifications to the basic Hawk airframe were incorporated into the T-45 Goshawk design including: new twin nose-wheel with catapult launch T-bar; nose wheel steering for maneuvering within the confines of the carrier deck; strengthened airframe and undercarriage for catapult launches; relocated speed brakes; provision of under-fuselage tail hook; revised avionics; and modified cockpit layout for compatibility with frontline US Navy combat aircraft.