The Hindu : Czechs offer `latest' jet trainer

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 06, 2002

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National

Czechs offer `latest' jet trainer

By Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI AUG. 5 . A few days after the Defence Minister, George Fernandes, said the deal for purchasing advanced jet trainers (AJT) was in the last lap, the Czechs have made a strong pitch for their L159B AJT, which they say will be available for half the price of the current front-runner, the British Hawk.

The Czechs had made a similar claim in February this year when their Deputy Defence Minister had come over. During a visit to that country, an Indian Air Force delegation, including some experienced test pilots, saw the production line as well as AJTs being flown in all-weather conditions and is believed to have submitted its report to the Defence Ministry.

"My expectation is that the team's report will have more positive features,'' said the Czech Ambassador, Jaromir Novotny, adding that most misgivings had been removed. As many as 42 Czech AJT single-seaters had joined the Czech Air Force and orders had been signed for the delivery of 72 two-seater AJTs — which India is looking for.

"Unlike the British Aerospace (the makers of Hawk), our factory is functional,'' he observed, adding that while the Hawk was a 70s design, the Czech AJT was a recent prototype. His implication is that advances in avionics etc. can on a later date be fitted on the L159B whereas this may not be possible in case of the Hawk.

Mr. Novotny also claims powerful backers for the L159B AJT, thus suggesting that it is not an obscure company looking for a quick killing in the highly obfuscated market for weapons and armaments. While Boeing has a 35 per cent share in Aero Vodchody and is also a source for integrated electronic systems for the plane, Honeywell, the suppliers of the engine, is discussing the possibilities of transfer of technology with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

The Czech Ambassador may be well within his rights to push the case of his country's aircraft. But India has been deprived of a trainer which bridges the gap between the subsonic trainers and supersonic fighter jets. Just when a decision appears inevitable, more attractive claims are aired.

For instance, Italy continues to offer its MB-339 FD while the Russians lose no opportunity in pushing their MiG-AT. Unfortunately, while policy makers grapple with claims and counter-claims, the lives of trainee pilots are at stake while training on aircraft which are too sophisticated for them to handle despite the best of efforts by the IAF. Mr. Novotny insists that the L159B would be value for money.

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