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India is still facing problems over the completion of the 66 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) Mk132 acquisition deal which was initiated in 2004. While the Indian Air Force (IAF) has received 24 aircraft in fly-away condition, the remaining 42 to be assembled by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) have been delayed.
Due to the recent grounding of 120 basic trainers (HPT-32) by the Indian Air Force (IAF), India is feeling the pressure on the lack of trainer aircraft in its fleet. HAL had delivered the first locally-built Hawk to the IAF in August 2008. As of now, HAL has failed to deliver 12-15 aircraft by March 2009 and 25 by 2009 end which it had committed to the IAF. The current number of Hawk trainers built by HAL are only five.
While the IAF and the Indian Navy were mulling over the acquisition of another 57 Hawks, there has been no agreement on the price. Indian Air Chief Marshal P.V.Naik has clearly said that if BAE Systems does not agree with the Indian benchmark and its expectation, then India will look for other options. In fact, the IAF has issued a new request for information (RFI) to global trainer aircraft manufacturers and will be pursuing the acquisition deal on a fast-track basis. This has been a setback for BAE Systems since in the normal course, it would have got a go-ahead signal since it has an assembly line ready in India. BAE Systems are holding talks to get back the deal with India for the additional trainers.
As for the delays in the Hawk production in India, the IAF is blaming the state-owned HAL who is responsible for the hawk AJT. HAL has criticized BAE Systems of UK for failing to carry out its contract to transfer technology, design drawings, tools, manufacturing jigs and components essential for manufacturing the Hawk trainer in India. BAE Systems has denied any failure to fulfill its contractual obligations saying it has already supplied the spares 18 months ago and is willing to support HAL in any issue related to Hawk trainers.
BAE Systems had signed a $1.2-billion contract with India’s Ministry of Defence in 2004 to supply 24 ready-built Hawk-132 AJTs (which have been delivered) and transfer the technology for building another 42 in HAL, Bangalore.
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