Karnataka - Bidar   

Grand reception for Hawk aircraft in Bidar

BIDAR: Air Force Station, Bidar, is being decked up for receiving two Hawk aircraft on Monday and preparations are on for the occasion. The first two aircraft will arrive from Warton, United Kingdom, to Air Force Station, Bidar, brought in by a unique team of aircrew comprising Indian Air Force pilots and BAE Systems pilots.

Bidar Air Force station, established during World War II, has been a training establishment for budding pilots of the IAF since 1963. They utilise trainer aircraft like HT2 and various variants of Kiran aircraft.

To ensure the smooth induction of Hawk aircraft, the air warriors, under the command of Air Commodore Ramesh Rai, have worked tirelessly to accomplish the increment in infrastructure required for induction of Hawk aircraft.

The aircraft is fully capable of carrying an array of weapons including air to ground bombs and air to air missiles. This capability of the Hawk will be beneficial in imparting armament training to budding fighter pilots. It would equip the young fighter pilots with the required skills needed to exploit the capabilities of advanced fighters while guarding the Indian skies.

The Hawk deal was signed with British Aerospace Systems in 2004 for 66 aircraft, with 24 aircraft being produced at United Kingdom and 42 licence-produced by HAL, Bangalore.

A team of pilots and technicians of Indian Air Force and HAL have undergone training at BAE Systems facilities in the UK. These pilots and technicians of the IAF would be the pioneers of fighter pilot training in India on the Hawk aircraft.

Speaking to press persons, Group Captain Patra, Chief Administrative Officer of the Air Force station, said that “Sun shelters have been constructed for parking Hawk aircraft at the station”.

He said that top dignitaries from BAE Systems and members of local civil administration will participate at the occasion.

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