Air Marshal S Krishnaswamys statement that the Czech-American L159B aircraft was a contender for the advanced jet trainer (AJT) requirement of the Indian Air Force (IAF), has taken the ministry of defence by surprise.
At a press conference on Monday, Krishnaswamy said though the L-159B aircraft had not yet been fully developed, it had "some interesting features" and so "we thought there was no harm in looking at it".
However, ministry sources said the L 159B aircraft did not fulfil certain requirements.
These include the aircrafts ability to carry out only two spin turns where six are needed, a slow altitude speed, high fuel burn, which restricts sorties without refuelling, and a low stores-carriage underwing.
Sixty-five per cent of the L 159B aircrafts components are of US origin, including the Honeywell F124 engine. The aircraft has Boeing avionics and 35 per cent of the company itself has Boeing equity.
This means it is bound by US laws of technology-transfer and clearance for exports. Till recently, the US had not cleared the exports of spares for the UK-made Sea King aircraft, which India had acquired, citing Congressional curbs that came into force after India became a nuclear power.
Defence minister George Fernandes told Business Standard that the final clearance for the AJT was pending before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), but the IAFs request that the L 159B aircraft also be considered would delay finalisation.
