Article Posted on : - Jul 24, 2010

Hawk trainer aircraft

NEW DELHI (PTI): The Indian Navy has placed orders for 17 'Hawk' trainer aircraft for its fighter pilots with Defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday.

Navy sources told PTI here that the deal for supply of the 17 trainer aircraft was signed for worth Rs 3,042 crore.

The Bangalore-based HAL would be supplying the trainer aircraft to the Navy's air arm in three years beginning 2013.

The Indian Navy orders comes at a time when India is in the process of finalising the terms of reference with the UK-based aircraft manufacturer BAE Systems for buying an additional 57 Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT).

This would be a follow-on order that India would place with the BAE Systems but the aircraft would be built by HAL at its Bangalore facilities.

Of the 57 to be ordered, 40 would go to the IAF and the rest 17 to the Navy.

In 2004, India had signed a deal with BAE to purchase 66 Hawk AJT worth Rs 6,600 crore. India has already received 24 aircraft in a fly-away condition and the rest 42 are under production at HAL.

The Hawk can also be used as a combat aircraft and it is at present being used by the IAF for advanced stage-three training for rookie IAF fighter pilots.

The AJTs can fly at a maximum speed of 1.2 times the speed of sound.