Date:14/12/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/12/14/stories/2006121402030400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

HAL to deliver first Hawk in March 2008

Rasheed Kappan

Structural Assembly Operations of AJT aircraft launched

MARK OF PRIDE: Hawk, the Advanced Jet Trainer

BANGALORE: State-owned aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) launched the Structural Assembly Operations of Hawk, the Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft, at its aircraft division here.

With this, HAL is on schedule to deliver the first licence-produced Hawk under Phase-1 of the project to the Indian Air Force (IAF) in March 2008.

HAL is to produce 42 Hawks under licence from British Aerospace Engineers (BAe) Systems, according to the $1.45 billion acquisition deal for 66 aircraft ordered by the IAF.

Contract

The British major will directly deliver the remaining 24 aircraft in flyaway conditions for induction at the Bidar Air Force Station.

The contract was signed in March 2004.

Sources told The Hindu that BAe Systems would provide the

fuselage structure and other related kits to HAL in January 2007 for production of the initial series of Hawk in the first phase.

HAL is scheduled to deliver all the 42 aircraft by 2010-11 in batches of one, 14, 24 and three.

Key HAL personnel have already undergone manufacturing training at the BAe site.

Training

Besides, 75 IAF pilots and two HAL pilots are being trained at BAe's Brough facility.

The British firm's Warton site is to provide ground school training to IAF personnel next year.

The acquisition contract included the purchase of ground-based training systems for Hawk, associated support and interim pilot training at the RAF Valley in Wales.

Meanwhile, the first two Hawks for direct delivery from BAe Systems have reportedly entered the final assembly phase back in Britain. The major equipment has been fitted and the systems tested.

The aircraft wings will now be fitted to the fuselage. It is learnt that the Hawks, designated HT001 and HT002, will go through a series of tests before their maiden flight at Warton.

HT001 is likely to be delivered to IAF in September 2007.

To accommodate Hawk at the IAF Bidar base, work is on for construction of a hangar, Air Traffic Control (ATC) building and an Armament Centre.

Besides, the existing runway will be extended to 9,000 ft.

All infrastructure works are to be completed by June 2007 to make the Bidar station the main operating base for the AJTs.