New Delhi: The Defence Ministry today said
it has fined British defence major BAE Systems for supplying
defective components for the Hawk AJT aircraft for the IAF.
The defective components caused delays in supply of the
aircraft by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to IAF,
which had to modify its training plan for its young pilots on
the Hawk advanced jet trainer, Defence Minister A K Antony
told Lok Sabha in reply to a written query.
"In view of the delay in delivery of Hawk by HAL due to
the receipt of defective components, jigs and fixtures from
the foreign manufacturer, on whom liquidated damages have been
levied, the original training plan by Hawk AJT for 2010-11 has
been modified," he said.
Hawks were inducted into the IAF in 2008 with an aim of
replacing Kiran Mk II and MiG 21 aircraft for flying training.
"Pilots of IAF are being trained on the MiG 21 aircraft,"
he said.
In 2004, a contract was signed with the UK for supplying
66 Hawks of which 24 were to be manufactured in Britain and
rest were to be license-produced at HAL facilities in the
country.
Due to the supply of defective items by BAE systems, the
delivery schedule of the aircraft has been adversely affected.
BAE Systems supplies the components of the aircraft to
the HAL in complete or semi knocked down kits and they are
assembled by the Indian aircraft manufacturer at its lines in
Bangalore.
Recently, India signed an agreement with BAE Systems for
procuring another 57 aircraft of which 40 will be for IAF and
the rest will go to the Navy.
Answering another query, Antony said the available
strength of pilots and personnel below officers ranks was
enough to meet the current operational requirements of IAF.
"The ab initio cost of training of a fighter pilot in the
IAF at 2008-09 rates is Rs 13.70 crore approximately," he
said.
-PTI
