The Hindu : 'No communication on Hawk deal'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 28, 2002

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'No communication on Hawk deal'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 27. While India today officially denied having received any communication from Britain on the suspension of the proposed sale of `Hawk' advanced jet trainers, the British High Commission took recourse to technicalities by pointing out that the issue of putting the deal in abeyance did not arise because the contract was yet to be inked.

The officials of the Defence Ministry concurred with the British High Commission's perception that the suspension of the export licence given to the Hawk's manufacturers and its replacement by a `case-by-case' regime was not significant.

"Negotiations are still continuing and this decision will have a bearing only if we finalise the deal for 66 Hawk-100 AJTs,'' they said.

However, analysts point out that if Britain decides to block the sale of the military equipment, it could impact the country's war preparedness.

The supply of spares for assets such as the Navy's Sea Harriers and Sea-King helicopters and the Indian Air Force's deep strike Jaguar aircraft could be affected if Britain's suspension of export licence to British Aerospace — manufacturers of Hawk — acquired a wider sweep.

But, these fears could be impermanent because Britain appears to have given an assurance against a blanket arms embargo, although it is firm on vetting each arms export application on a case-by-case basis due to the prevailing tense situation in South Asia.

The purchase of AJTs is crucial for India because there is no intermediate aircraft for trainee pilots before they graduate to the more sophisticated fighter jets.

The high attrition rate of MiG-21 has been attributed to this factor.

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