IAF to get 40 more Hawk AJTs

IAF to get 40 more Hawk AJTs





BANGALORE: The Air Force, which is acquiring 66 Hawk advanced jet trainers (AJTs) designed and developed by BAE Systems, has prevailed upon the government to allow it to procure another 40 out of the 57 additional Hawks that are to be bought. The Navy will get 17.

Under a contract worth around $1.75 billion signed in March 2004, India is already buying 66 Hawk AJTs, with 24 of these aircraft being built in the United Kingdom by BAE Systems, and the remaining 42 manufactured under ‘licence build’ in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

While HAL is hoping to complete manufacturing the initial batch of 42 Hawks in 36 months — with the first aircraft scheduled to roll out in March — official sources told The Hindu that work on the other 57 could start in 2011-12.


While HAL will benefit from the additional order, it is also an indication that the Air Force is apprehensive over the long delay in the delivery of the HAL designed and developed intermediate jet trainer (IJT), the Hindustan Jet Trainer (HJT) -36. The HJT-36 which is expected to become the backbone of the Air Force’s pilot training programme will replace the aging workhorse, the Kiran HJT-16. But HAL, which received an order for 12 aircraft, has been unable to meet even revised delivery schedules.
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This is a interesting development because it suggest to me the Indian air force is planning a major face light of their fighting capability adding a much more capable Trainer to train for much capable fighters replacing much of the original HA Kiran trainers. I still dont know why they decided not to license build these aircraft