IAF looking at Indian AJTs

Even before it actually acquires the 66 Hawks from UK-based BAE Systems to be inducted into its fleet, the Indian Air Force is already gearing up to replace these Hawks with indigenously-built Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs).

In this respect, IAF has already commenced its work on design aspects with Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.

Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of a defence seminar, chief of air staff, air chief marshal S Krishnaswamy said that the IAF was in discussions with HAL, which was doing final design studies for producing an Indian AJT.

"Preliminary work on the project has begun at HAL. Once we are ready with the concept and design, we will take it to the government for clearance. As the highest decision-making body, it will be up to the government to decide on going ahead with the ambitious project. The road map is to take up the project soon so as to have our own AJTs by the time all the 66 British Hawks are delivered and are in operational use in the next 10-15 years," Krishnaswamy said.

Earlier, delivering the inaugural address at the two-day national seminar on "Military Airworthiness and Certification", Krishnaswamy called for self reliance and said that the Indian industry must evolve the AJT from the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), which is designed and developed by HAL, so that the IAF need not buy more than the 66 Hawks it has signed with BAE for delivery and co-production.

Krishnaswamy added that the IAF was supporting the HAL to grow the IJT into an AJT.

"We have an agreement to acquire 24 Hawks in a fly-away condition and a licence to co-produce another 42 by HAL. The deal should stop with 66 Hawks and after that an indigenous AJT must follow. We have a time slot of 15 years to roll out the AJT on the production line from the stables of our industry as a derivative of IJT. It is doable," Krishnaswamy said.

The IJTs are meant to replace the aging Surya Kiran Mark II trainer jets for rookie IAF pilots to graduate from sub-sonic to supersonic fighters. The Air Force has already placed an order with HAL for 16 IJTs as an interim measure pending the delivery of Hawks, for which the pound 795-million (Rs 6650 crore) contract was finally signed in March 2004 after years of delays.