The first four aircrafts of the Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT) Hawk will arrive at the IAF Flying School at Bidar airbase by mid-November said Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Fali H Major.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a conference on Helicopter Technology on Tuesday he said that four Hawk aircrafts of the first batch of 24 aircraft manufactured by the BAE systems in the UK will arrive at Bidar on November 14 or 15 which will later be followed by other aircrafts.
India had ordered 66 trainers from the BAE of which 24 will come in a ready-to-fly configuration while Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will manufacture the remaining at its Bangalore Aviation Complex.
On the IAF latest acquisitions, he said that all programmes were as per schedule and that the Air Force was keen to induct more aircrafts to its depleting fleet strength which he said was a cause of concern. “We expect the first AWACS aircraft to be delivered by August or September next year and also our indigenous AWACS programme is progressing well.
Similarly, the fifth generation fighter aircrafts with Russia is also on track along with the 124 multi-role combat aircrafts for which Request for Proposal’s (RFPS’s) has already been issued to the bidders and the first aircraft are likely to be inducted by 2012 or 2013,” he said.
He added that the proposed Aero Space Command and Military Satellite Programme were complex issues and that they needed careful examination.
Indigenous
Earlier, addressing the conference he appealed to the scientific community and the R&D organisations to develop indigenous military technologies which are superior and cutting edge. “We want a critical system which is superior when compared to technologies that are available in other countries. We want our scientists and R& D organisations to look 20 years ahead and not to re-invent the wheel,” he said.
HAL Chairman Ashok K Baweja said that the Indian aviation major was considering to start a 10 tone helicopter programme and was on the look out for partners.
