Indian MoD approves PC-7 follow-on buy

[CONNAN]

India's Ministry of Defence (MoD) approved the purchase of 38 additional Pilatus PC-7 Mk II tandem-seat basic trainer aircraft for CHF230 million (INR14.88 billion) on 28 February.

These will supplement 75 PC-7s acquired by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2012 for USD1 billion to replace the locally designed Deepak Hindustan Piston Trainer 32 (HPT-32).

More than 200 HPT-32s were grounded in July 2009 following 17 crashes in which 19 pilots died. Since then, the IAF has inducted 59 PC-7s and delivery of the remaining 16 from the 2012 contract is scheduled for completion by 2015.

The IAF's overall requirement is for 181 training platforms. The MoD's Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), headed by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, declared that the shortfall of 68 trainers would be met by the under-development Hindustan Turbo Trainer 40 (HTT-40).

The HTT-40 prototype, which is being designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), is scheduled to undertake its maiden test flight later in 2015 and enter series production around 2018, nearly six years behind schedule.

The MoD had earlier committed to acquiring 106 HTT-40s, but relented after the IAF strongly opposed their induction on operational, logistical and financial grounds.

However, to boost India's defence industrial base the DAC has instructed the IAF to order "adequate numbers" of HTT-40s to render the project "commercially viable", senior MoD officials said without elaborating.

HAL is considering weaponising the HTT-40 for possible close air support missions and is looking to export this version to countries like Afghanistan.

The DAC also approved the INR230 billion programme to build 12 mine counter measure vessels (MCMV) at Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) in a joint venture (JV) with a foreign original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

In December 2014 the MoD terminated the tender to import two South Korean MCMVs and licence-build six more at GSL under a technology transfer.

The DAC also cleared the import, via the US Foreign Military Sales route, of one Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 military transporter for INR5.33 billion to replace the one that crashed in central India in March 2014.

However, it deferred a decision to acquire 12 ShinMaywa US-2i amphibious search-and-rescue aircraft for around USD1.65 billion from Japan, demanding additional information on the proposed procurement.

It also postponed, for the third time since November 2014, a verdict on the solitary vendor bid by the Airbus Defence and Space-Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) JV for 56 Military Transport Aircraft (MTA). This JV proposes building 40 twin-prop C295 aircraft locally to replace the IAF's ageing fleet of licence-built Avro 748s after acquiring 16 off the shelf.

Under the MoD's Defence Procurement Procedure, single-bid programmes mandate DAC approval.

Meanwhile, the IAF has lost 28 aircraft and 14 helicopters in accidents since 2011, in which 42 pilots died, Parrikar told parliament on 27 February. He said 14 of the 28 crashed aircraft were MiG-21 variant fighters.

Indian MoD approves PC-7 follow-on buy - IHS Jane's 360

 

[sudhir007]

I dnt understand if MoD want HTT-40 for IAF then why they give follow order. Better to create more HTT-40

 

[kaykay]

Good decision. Requirement is huge(180+) so may be MoD doesn't want to take risk. 110 P-7 mk2s and rest 70-80 HTT-40s( if they don't delay this project too else more P-7mk2s).