Hawk Trainers Follow-On Orders Are In Question

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 12:52:41 +0000

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has expressed apprehensions over the follow-on order of the Hawk Trainers from BAE Systems due to issues related to maintenance and price increase. The aircraft in the follow-on order were to have been indigenously assembled by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), with product and technical support from the OEM BAE Systems.

The IAF had signed a contract worth $1.75 billion with BAE Systems for 66 Hawk Trainers in March 2004. BAE has already delivered 24 in direct supply and 42 are being assembled from semi knocked down and completely knocked down kits at HAL facilities in Bangalore.

Sources said that the IAF is concerned over the price being quoted by HAL for the follow-on order. The prices quoted by HAL includes spares, technical help and product support from OEMs BAE Systems and Rolls Royce (for the engine). However, the slow pace of deliveries and the poor product service has caused the apprehension regarding the follow-on order of the Hawk trainers.

India aims at indigenously developing an advanced jet trainer (AJT) to follow-up the development of the Intermediate Jet Trainer. At the recently held Aero-India Show 2009, M.Natrajan, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister announced that India will develop a trainer which will be a derivative of the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas but far superior to the Hawk will be flying the Indian skies in another five years.

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India Defence Online » Hawk Trainers Follow-On Orders Are In Question

Hawk Trainers Follow-On Orders Are In Question