BAE, HAL in talks for JV to produce AJT Hawk for the global market
02 Jan 2008
Media reports say that Britain's BAE Systems is in talks with Indian aerospace giant Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to jointly produce Hawk advanced jet trainers in India for the global market. Reports quoted the Mint newspaper as the source for the story.
State-run HAL is due to start production of the aircraft under license from BAE Systems for the Indian Air Force, once the British company completes delivery of the required number of aircraft at its end.
The paper reported HAL chairman, Ashok K Baweja as saying in an e-mail that both firms were doing a feasibility study for the joint venture, which would also focus on doing repair and overhaul of the Hawk aircraft, sold by BAE Systems worldwide.
According to the paper, Baweja did not elaborate further on the plans. The paper also quoted HAL officials as saying that the talks on forming a joint venture were at an early stage.
