India agrees to buy 66 Hawk AJTs

British Aerospace bags Rs 6,600 cr contract

After 20 years of protracted negotiations, India reached an accord with the UK for the acquisition of Hawk advanced jet trainers (AJTs). Under the deal, the Indian Air Force will get 66 AJTs worth £795 million or about Rs 6,600 crore.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for "effective and uninterrupted implementation of the contracts" for the supply of the Hawk 115Y AJTs by British Aerospace Systems, manufacturers of the jet aircraft, and other British equipment producers, was inked by Defence Secretary Ajay Prasad and British High Commissioner Michael Arthur here.

British Aerospace and other equipment manufacturers and the defence ministry, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and allied organisations will next week sign the actual contracts for the supply and licensed production of the Hawk.

The deal, which has been hanging fire for the last 20 years, fulfils one of the long-standing needs of the IAF that has seen a spate of MiG-21 and other fighter jet crashes in recent years.

The induction of the Hawk would help in the smooth transition of trainee IAF pilots from subsonic 'Kiran' planes to high-performance and supersonic frontline fighter jets, officials said.

Of the 66 AJTs being bought to provide advanced Stage III training to pilots, 24 would be procured in fly-away condition, while the remaining would be manufactured in India by HAL under licence from British Aerospace, Prasad said.

Under the MoU, the British government will provide full support and cooperation for the supply of the AJTs as also their licensed production and availability of spares.

Official sources said the delivery of the aircraft would commence 35 months after the signing of the contracts and all the 66 planes, which can be also used for combat, were expected to be handed over to the IAF within the next six years.

The British government has agreed that it will not impose any restrictions or prohibitions at any time during the operational life of the aircraft and on the continued supply of the Hawks, associated equipment, information, technology and any related supplies and services.

"Fitment and use of equipment and weapon systems of British origin, purchased from a British company or produced in India under licence, on any aircraft by India will not be objected to by the British government," a defence ministry spokesman said.

The British authorities would also ensure that the price and conditions negotiated by British Aerospace and other associated British equipment manufacturers were fair and reasonable, he said.

The MoU will remain in force for 25 years, ensuring long-term product support.