Indian RFP for Advanced Jet Trainers includes errant BAE Systems
31 Mar 2009
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has issued Request for Proposals (RFPs) for 56 more Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) to six aerospace companies, including UK aerospace and armaments giant BAE Systems. This may surprise a few for it was the cancellation of an existing order for BAE's Hawk AJT which necessitated fresh tenders in the first place.
Presumably, it will offer its new Hawks.
Other than BAE Systems the other contenders are Italy' s Alenia for its M346, South Korea's T-50, the Czech Republic's L-159 and Russia's Yak-130 and MiG AT trainer.
The IAF scrapped the Hawk order after facing problems with the supply of spare parts, and is reportedly not keen on any BAE Hawks adorning its trainer fleet in the future.