Delivery of British Hawks likely by this month: IAF

Bangalore, Sept. 8 (PTI): The first of the 66 advanced fighter jets that India buys from the UK is likely to be delivered within this month, the Air Force chief said Friday.

Air Chief Marshal, F H Major, said the country would start receiving the jet trainers by the end of this month or first week of October. India had placed the order in 2003 at a cost of US$ 1.3 billion.

"India is currently in the process of a comprehensive capability building exercise...military aviation is in the process of a major transformation. You will not recognise the IAF five years down-the-line," he said while delivering a lecture on "Strategic aerospace power: technological and maintenance challenges" on the occasion of NAL (National Aerospace Laboratories) foundation day.

"IAF is now making a serious attempt to reduce its complex, multiple inventories. We want lesser types so that it's easier to maintain," he said.

Under the proposed MRCA (multi-role combat aircraft) deal, India would purchase 126 more fighters. This would throw up a "golden opportunity" for Indian aerospace industry to flourish like never before as it offered Rs 22,000 crore as offsets - 50 per cent to the approximate project cost of Rs 45,000 crore.

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