HAL to support IAF's Hawks for another 40 years

The company has so far produced 21 aircraft and will produce all the 40 aircraft by 2016-17

Bengaluru-headquartered defence public sector unit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) said it would support the Hawk project for the next 40 years. The company has absorbed the technology completely, which will enable it to support the jet trainer aircraft, a top company official said.

“The aircraft is currently being produced at HAL under licence from BAeS, UK, and the first aircraft was handed over to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in August 2008,” said HAL Chairman T Suvarna Raju, on the sidelines of Aero India show at the Yelahanka air base.

The Hawk 132 is an advanced jet trainer (AJT) with tandem dual seats meant to provide basic, advanced flying and weapons training.  The aircraft has capabilities for ground attack and air defence.

Air Marshal Ramesh Rai of Training Command said, “Hawk has been of great service to IAF and has flown over 70,000 hours.”

Production programme of 42 Hawks to the IAF was concluded in 2011-12. Further, the second contract was signed between the IAF and HAL on July 23, 2010 for the supply of 40 Hawk AJT and associated equipment. HAL has so far produced 21 aircraft and will produce all the 40 aircraft by 2016-17.

A contract was signed between the Indian Navy and HAL on July 23, 2010 for supply of 17 Hawk AJT and associated equipment.

HAL has so far produced 10 aircraft and will produce all the 17 aircraft by 2016-17.

The company said it will also continue to support the indigenous Kiran aircraft built by it. The aircraft had been the mainstay of the IAF for the last 50 years.

“HAL’s indigenously-built Kiran aircraft, that has been the mainstay of IAF for the past 50 years would continue to be maintained for the next three to four years,” said K Naresh Babu, managing director, HAL’s Bengaluru Complex.