The Indian navy has taken delivery of its first of 17 BAE Systems Hawk advanced jet trainers, with its remaining examples to follow over a three-year period.
Assembled in Bengaluru by Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL), the naval trainers are contained within a wider Hawk order signed in 2010, which also contains 40 examples for the Indian air force. The latter service had previously acquired 66 in the same Mk 132 configuration.
"HAL plans to deliver five aircraft in the current fiscal year and the balance in the next three years to the Indian navy," the company says. The remaining four due for acceptance this year "will be delivered soon", says HAL chairman R K Tyagi.
Meanwhile, BAE is optimistic of finalising a deal to sell a third batch of 20 Hawks to New Delhi, with these intended to re-equip its Surya Kiran aerobatic display team, which previously operated the HAL-built Kiran trainer.
"We have submitted our response to HAL's request for proposal for a potential order to supply products and services for the manufacture of 20 additional Hawk aircraft," says Guy Griffiths, BAE's group managing director, international.
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