The Hindu : National : `Production of AJTs on schedule'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 24, 2006

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National

`Production of AJTs on schedule'

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: The production of Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) is on schedule and the first one would be out by March 2008, said Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Managing Director A.K. Saxena on Wednesday.

Speaking to presspersons after the inaugural session of a seminar on "Small and Medium Entrepreneurs-Opportunities for Strategic Growth" organised by Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), Mr. Saxena said that the delivery of the aircraft would not be delayed as work was progressing well.

In 2004, the Union Government entered into a deal worth Rs. 6,600 crore with the United Kingdom. According to the deal, HAL is to produce 42 AJTs with assistance from British Aerospace. The Government is to acquire another 24 aircraft directly from British Aerospace.

Mr. Saxena also said that countries such as Bolivia, Chile, Turkey and Venezuela had shown interest in procuring Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs), also called Dhruv. He said that Israel, which had expressed interest in the ALHs earlier, had not backed off.

The recent force landing of an ALH near Hyderabad was a temporary setback and the minor problems in Dhruv had been overcome, Mr. Saxena said.

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