India to buy more BAE Hawks AJT

uk.news.yahoo.com...

NEW DELHI (AFP) - India plans to buy 40 Hawk trainer jets for its air force from British Aerospace (BAe) in addition to 66 purchased for 1.45 billion dollars in 2004, officials said Wednesday.

The air force is in a hurry to acquire more trainers to ready rookie pilots for 126 new fighter aircraft India is set to acquire for more than 10 billion dollars later this year.

"The deal (for the 40 trainers) is now as good as done," a senior air force commander told AFP on condition of anonymity

With the navy wanting them as well - i can really see the production line moving to india - so far the projected order is for 123 of the AJT -they really like them alot, and doubling the order and HAL producing them is a win-win for india.

www.flightglobal.com...

Sources close to HAL say talks between the company and BAE over a possible shift of all Hawk production to India are also continuing. "Discussions are still at the early stages. The companies are talking about forming a joint venture, and it makes sense for HAL, given that it has already invested heavily in facilities for manufacturing the Hawk," says one.

looks like its only time before production fully shifts to India

www.defense-aerospace.com...


Uk built Hawk AJT number 5 and 6 were delivered today , with number 22 allread flight testing and number 23 and 24 (the final one) ready for flying - production then moves to india for initially 42 , but very likely at least 82 (42 + 40 more) with as mentioned above - the entire production line moving there