Geneva: Switzerland's aviation giant
Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is set to enter into the biggest contract
yet for supplying 75 basic trainer aircraft at a cost of about
USD 1 billion to the Indian Air Force, a report has said.
The Swiss company hopes to sign the contract soon, with
the first consignment of 12 aircraft to be delivered in 24
months, said Swiss economic daily Le Temp.
Following the government's decision to ground HP-32
Deepak, manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the
Indian Air Force is understood to have pressed for an immediate
replacement.
India had called for offers for trainer aircraft in 2009
and subsequently short listed three- Pilatus, another trainer
from the United States and a third from South Korea.
But Pilatus declined to comment on the report.
The company supplied over 500 trainer aircraft largely to
countries in the Middle East.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, June 19, 2011, 14:52