BAE sending faulty parts for IAF Hawk trainers

[Ruag]

British firm sending faulty parts for Hawk trainers: Minister in RS

Posted: Friday , Apr 23, 2010 at 0001 hrs

The government has blamed British firm BAE Systems for supplying faulty components for the Hawk advanced jet trainer that is currently being manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore. In a strong statement in Parliament, Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju said that key components required for manufacturing the aircraft had various shortcomings.

As first reported by this newspaper in March 2008, the trainer fleet, which was bought under a $ 1.5-billion deal in 2004, has been facing several problems relating to spare parts and delay in arrival of critical components for the assembly line in India.

Raju told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday that HAL’s delivery schedule of the aircraft is behind time due to differences with BAE Systems, the original manufacturer. The minister said the BAE Systems supplied wrong components and at times there were defects in major systems like the wing component.

British firm sending faulty parts for Hawk trainers: Minister in RS

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HAL's bitter experience with Hawk project could result in a serious blow to the chances of Eurofighter Typhoon winning the MRCA deal.

 

[CONNAN]

PRESENT STATUS UF THE HAWK DEAL

Mr Nayak also says that when HAL pointed out the discrepancy to the BAE Systems team stationed at the Hawk assembly line, “they had to refer back to the UK for everything. They weren’t able to address these issues themselves.”

While most issues have now been resolved, there are still some continuing delays. Hawk windscreens, manufactured by Indian vendors must be sent to BAE Systems, UK for certifying their strength and clarity. This procedure, says HAL, is taking unduly long.

Guy Douglas, BAE Systems’ spokesperson in India, strongly refutes HAL’s version. In an emailed response, he states “BAE Systems does not accept that the programme delays being experienced by HAL, on their contract with the Government of India, are materially down to BAE Systems. BAE Systems has completed all hardware deliveries to support the licence-build programme. BAE Systems has repeatedly made clear that it stands ready to assist HAL, should they require it. In this respect, a number of proposals have been made by BAE Systems to HAL and we await their response.”

Ashok Nayak denies that HAL has had any difficulties in assimilating the technology needed for manufacturing the Hawk in India.

The HAL Chairman states, “We have assembled the Jaguar and other aircraft. That is not the problem. Why were the jigs and fixtures that [BAE Systems] supplied incorrect? We have their Technical Assistance Team’s signatures on each and every one of them. I can quote you minimum 300 such examples, and some of them took weeks to sort out.”

Nor is the MoD impressed with BAE Systems’ execution of the Hawk contract, signalling its disapproval earlier this year by floating a fresh global inquiry for India’s requirement of 57 additional trainers. That was an unambiguous rap on the knuckles for BAE Systems; with an assembly line already producing AJTs in Bangalore, the additional requirement would normally have been added on to the ongoing licensed production.

Now, however, BAE Systems is back in talks with South Block over the order for 57 more Hawks.