After 25 years, Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) will finally be inducted into the Indian Air Force, initiating a new chapter in fighter pilot training.

The British Hawk AJTs will be inducted into service by Defence Minister A K Antony during an official function at the Bidar IAF base on February 23, official sources said.

The need for an AJTs was first articulated by the IAF in 1982, but the final contract was signed with the British Aerospace (BAE) Systems only in 2004. The first two aircraft arrived at Bidar on November 12 last year.
The Rs 800 crore deal envisaged supply of 66 aircraft, 24 of which will come in a ready-to-fly condition. The remaining 42 will be license produced by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd at Bangalore.

The pilots and technicians were trained at BAE Systems facilities at Warton and Brough in the United Kingdom. The first four Hawk aircraft, type 132, were flown from Warton to Bidar by a combined team of BAE Systems’ and IAF pilots.

In addition to being a jet trainer, Hawk-132 is fully combat-capable and can carry air-to-air missile and air-to-ground armament.