Article Posted on : - Dec 18, 2012

The Hawk AJT of IAF.

NEW DELHI (PTI): A total of 16 Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft are on the ground for want of spares, Defence Minister A K Antony has informed the Lok Sabha.

"A total of 16 aircraft are AOG (aircraft on ground) as on date for want of spares (rotables). Affected spares have been dispatched to vendors HAL and BAE for repair," he said in a written reply on Monday.

He said actions such as establishment of in-country repair and overhaul facilities at HAL, long-term agreement with BAE Systems, which is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and indigenisation of spares have been taken to ensure availability of the aircraft for training.

India has so far placed orders for over 120 BAE Hawk AJTs from the UK and is planning to procure 20 more of these planes for creating an aerobatics display team for the Indian Air Force.

To a query on border infrastructure, the Defence Minister said the Border Roads Organisation is expected to complete all the 61 strategic roads being built to strengthen infrastructure along the boundary with China by 2016.

"Out of 73 roads identified as strategic border roads, 61 roads have been entrusted to BRO with a total length of 3409.07-km. Out of this, 17 roads of length 612.51-km have been completed, 25 roads are scheduled for completion by 2013 and rest 19 roads by 2016," he said.

Funds to the tune of Rs 3123.21 crore were allotted and Rs 2831.23 crore have been utilised, he added.

Antony said there were 13 ongoing new line projects covering a length of 965-km in the North East region.

"Outlay of Rs 1490 crore has been provided for these projects during 2012-13. 48-kms of new lines on projects of North Eastern Region have been planned for completion during 2012-2013," he said.