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Due to the growing dismay over the problems arising from the spares supply issue of the British Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers, India has abandoned the follow-on orders of the same from BAE of United Kingdom.
In order to increase the potential and fleet of it trainer jets, India has floated fresh global tenders and six global manufacturers have been issued the Request for Information.
Interestingly, BAE has figured in that list but what has been asked for is an advanced and upgraded version of the trainer.
India has rather oddly opted for the new and different fleet of trainers since it was earlier aiming at training its fighter pilot with a single type of trainers. The fresh tenders indicate a new perspective Indian Air Force strategy. The IAF has elicited its interest in Italy’s Alenia for the M-346, Korean T-50s, the Chez L-159, Russian YAK-130 and MiG AT Trainer, according to sources.
IAF has been gearing up for a strong trainer fleet for some time now. While the procurement process of trainers has lasted for more than a decade, the contract for delivery of the ‘Hawk’ AJT from BAE was finally approved in 2004 and India selected BAE’s Hawk 115Y as its future advanced jet trainer. The 66-plane order included options for another 40. However, since the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has been unable to cope up with the lack of spares from the original manufacturers and the delays, the follow-up order was shelved.
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