The Indian Air Force (IAF) has submitted its flight evaluation report for the basic trainer aircraft it seeks to acquire, a senior IAF official has confirmed on condition of anonymity.
“The trials were completed by December, and the report has been submitted to the defence ministry,” he said.
Five planes—the Hawker Beechcraft T-6C Texan II, the Grob G-120, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KT-1, the Pilatus PC-7 and EADS’ PZL-130 Orlik—are in the running for the deal.
Three people with direct knowledge of the matter independently said that, out of the five competitors, three—the T-6C Texan II, the KT-1 and the PC-7—are likely to clear flight trials.
The IAF is seeking to acquire 75 basic trainers, in a deal valued at nearly $1 billion (Rs.4,550 crore).
They will replace the HAL HPT-32 Deepak trainer aircraft that were grounded in July-August 2009 after several crashes and engine failures. The Deepak trainers are manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
The IAF has been without a basic trainer since then and trainee pilots are training directly on the Stage-2 advanced jet trainer (AJT) Hawk-132. In 2004, India signed a contract with BAE Systems of the UK to acquire 66 AJTs, 24 of which were delivered in 2008. In July 2010, India signed a deal to acquire an additional 40 AJTs for the IAF and 17 for the navy.
The IAF officer cited earlier said that, as per the procedure, the lowest bidder among the shortlisted competitors would be determined.
Cost negotiations would begin after this.
According to one of the people with direct knowledge of the matter, the final contract is likely to be signed by June, as the “IAF is in urgent need for basic trainers”.
Doug J. Choi, regional manager, International Business Development, Asia/South America, KAI, said thus far the company had had no official communication with the IAF.
Officials from Hawker Beechcraft and Pilatus could not be reached for comment, while the IAF spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
“The trials were completed by December, and the report has been submitted to the defence ministry,” he said.
Five planes—the Hawker Beechcraft T-6C Texan II, the Grob G-120, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KT-1, the Pilatus PC-7 and EADS’ PZL-130 Orlik—are in the running for the deal.
Three people with direct knowledge of the matter independently said that, out of the five competitors, three—the T-6C Texan II, the KT-1 and the PC-7—are likely to clear flight trials.
The IAF is seeking to acquire 75 basic trainers, in a deal valued at nearly $1 billion (Rs.4,550 crore).
They will replace the HAL HPT-32 Deepak trainer aircraft that were grounded in July-August 2009 after several crashes and engine failures. The Deepak trainers are manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
The IAF has been without a basic trainer since then and trainee pilots are training directly on the Stage-2 advanced jet trainer (AJT) Hawk-132. In 2004, India signed a contract with BAE Systems of the UK to acquire 66 AJTs, 24 of which were delivered in 2008. In July 2010, India signed a deal to acquire an additional 40 AJTs for the IAF and 17 for the navy.
The IAF officer cited earlier said that, as per the procedure, the lowest bidder among the shortlisted competitors would be determined.
Cost negotiations would begin after this.
According to one of the people with direct knowledge of the matter, the final contract is likely to be signed by June, as the “IAF is in urgent need for basic trainers”.
Doug J. Choi, regional manager, International Business Development, Asia/South America, KAI, said thus far the company had had no official communication with the IAF.
Officials from Hawker Beechcraft and Pilatus could not be reached for comment, while the IAF spokesperson declined to comment on the matter.
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