India to induct 106 indigenous trainer aircrafts |
Indian Defence Ministry on Tuesday gave its go-ahead for the purchase of military equipment worth 1.17 billion dollars, including 106 locally made basic trainer aircraft, for the Indian Air Force to provide a push to the government`s Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan`. Basic trainers figure on the government`s negative import list that seeks to ban the import of 101 different types of weapons, systems and ammunition over the next five years. The defence acquisition council (DAC) accorded its acceptance for buying 106 Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) aircraft from state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) at a meeting chaired by defence minister Rajnath Singh. The ministry in a statement said, “With HAL having successfully developed HTT-40 prototypes and certification process underway, the DAC approved procurement of 106 basic trainers to address the training requirements of the IAF”. The IAF is expected to order 70 trainers initially, with the remaining number to be bought after the operationalisation of the HTT-40 fleet in the IAF. The HTT-40 aircraft has undergone a string of elaborate tests at HAL to demonstrate that it is safe for rookie pilots and meets the IAF`s exacting standards for trainer planes. HAL could begin the production of the trainers by early next year.
|
|
|
|