Indian MoD Source: Purchase of 20 Hawk Trainers On Track Despite Lost File

NEW DELHI — An order for 20 Hawk advanced jet trainers for the Indian Air Force worth $333 million has been delayed as the file detailing the purchase has been misplaced, an Indian Defence Ministry source said.

No MoD official would confirm or deny the misplacing of the Hawk file, but the MoD source said the delay is only “temporary” as related files on the purchase are being obtained from state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL). The aircraft are being produced by HAL under license from BAE Systems.

The deal possibly could be signed in the next month, added the source, but would not commit to a time frame.

MoD cleared the purchase of 20 Hawk trainers in 2010 and was processing the case for final clearance by the Cabinet Committee on Security, the highest body that oversees weapon purchases, when it was discovered the file could not be found, added the source. This latest batch of 20 Hawk trainers was to be used by the Air Force’s aerobatic team.

India has contracted 123 Hawks, with the first order of 66 placed in 2004 by the previous National Democratic Alliance government. The second order for the purchase of 57 Hawk trainers was placed in July 2010.

The Indian government signed a $1.7 billion contract with BAE in 2004 under which 66 Hawks were to be acquired. Out of that total order, 24 have been procured from BAE in fly-away condition and the remaining 42 are to be assembled and license produced at HAL. ■

[url]http://www.defensenews.com/article/20140918/DEFREG03/309180033/Indian-MoD-Source-Purchase-20-Hawk-Trainers-Track-Despite-Lost-File?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|p[/url]