New Delhi: India Friday raised the problems
relating to licensed production of 'Hawk' Advanced Jet
Trainers for the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the United
Kingdom, asking the suppliers --BAE Systems-- to sort out the
issues.
The UK, on its behalf, expressed its eagerness in
helping IAF in its programme to upgrade the British-origin
Jaguar fighter jets.
These issues came up for discussion when British
Minister for Defence Equipment and Support Quentin Davies,
leading a three-member UK delegation, met Minister of State
for Defence M M Pallam Raju here.
A Defence Ministry spokesperson said Davies informed
Raju about UK's keenness in the Jaguar upgrading for the IAF
and also promised to overcome the problems relating to
licensed production of 'Hawks', being built by the Hindustan
Aeronautics Limited (HAL), in India.
India had bought 66 'Hawks' from US in a Rs
6,600-crore deal in 2004, after a two decade delay in the
procurement process. The first Hawk under deal was delivered
by BAE Systems to India last year and the HAL started licensed
production of the AJT around the same time.
However, HAL was besieged with teething problems
during the production, leading to dissatisfaction over the
support from the original equipment manufacturer in overcoming
them.
PTI
First Published: Friday, November 27, 2009, 20:03