BAE Systems in talks to weaponise India's Hawks

The Indian Air Force is in negotiations with BAE Systems to weaponise its fleet of Hawk Mk 132 advanced jet trainers so they could be deployed on strike co-ordinated armed reconnaissance and close air support missions.
The IAF is evaluating the feasibility of integrating its largely licence-built Hawk Mk 132s with a range of weapon systems that are fitted onto its SEPECAT Jaguar fighters.
This includes MBDA's Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles, Rafael Litening targeting pods, and a range of smart weapons.
By 2016-17 the IAF will operate 106 Hawks and the Indian Navy another 17, making India the largest operator of the type. The IAF plans to acquire another 20 Hawks for its aerobatics team, disbanded in February 2011 after its HAL-built Surya Kiran HJT-16 Mk I and Mk II aircraft were diverted to train fighter pilots.
IAF fighter pilots begin their instruction on Pilatus PC-7 Mk II tandem-seat basic turboprop trainers for 55 hours before moving onto the Kiran HJT-16 Mk I and Mk II intermediate jet trainers for another 70 hours. Thereafter, they graduate to Hawk Mk 132s for two 'semesters' of 135 hours before going on to operate fighters.
janes

India likely to order 106 more Pilatus aircraft to train pilots

India is likely to go in for 106 more Swiss Pilatus PC-7 basic trainer aircraft (BTA), the bulk of which will be produced domestically, to help train rookie IAF pilots in a project worth around Rs 7,000 crore.
This comes after defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics' attempt to develop its own BTA called HTT-40 failed to pass muster with the defence ministry. First, it would have been much more expensive than the Pilatus BTA already being inducted by IAF. Second, it would have not met the timelines specified long ago.
So, the defence acquisitions council (DAC) is slated to consider the case for 106 additional Pilatus at the meeting to be chaired by Manohar Parrikar on Saturday, say sources.
One option is to buy 38 Pilatus off-the-shelf, with the rest 68 being produced by the 5 Base Repair Depot (BRD) of IAF at Sulur. Other options could include importing only 10 BTA, with 96 being made in India.
imesofindia

India Wants Domestic Production of Pilatus Trainers

After contracting 75 basic trainer aircraft from Pilatus in 2012, India wants to buy an additional 106 that would be license-built by a domestic company.
But domestic defense firms find the proposal uneconomical, and state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) is pushing its own homegrown basic trainer, though the Indian Air Force has already rejected it.
The request for information, described by the defense industry as the first of its kind, asks selected domestic companies if they would participate in the proposed program to build 106 Pilatus PC-7 Mark-II trainers under license in the “Buy and Make (Indian)” category, which restricts contracts to domestic defense companies and requires that at least half of the components and subsystems come from domestic sources.
Domestic companies, in turn, find the “Buy and Make (Indian )” program for Pilatus uneconomical because of the limited order. A chosen domestic company and the Swiss original equipment manufacturer would produce the trainer. However, no domestic partner has so far confirmed talking to Pilatus on the program.
HAL is also developing a homegrown trainer and is trying to block the proposed Pilatus program.
A HAL official said the basic trainer it is developing, the HTT-40, would be more advanced than the PC-7 as it will have weapon-firing capabilities and other advancements. The HTT-40 is expected to fly by 2015.
Last year, the Air Force proposed that HAL license-produce the Pilatus aircraft but HAL rejected the proposal, saying it was working on its own project.
defensenews

India To Buy More Pilatus PC-7 Mk. 2s

The Indian air force has decided to urgently buy 106 PC-7 Mk. 2 Basic Trainer Aircraft from Pilatus, pulling the plug yet again on state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is also making an aircraft for training junior pilots.
The PC-7 be acquired from the Swiss company under the “Buy & Make (Indian)” category, in accordance with India’s defense procurement policy.
India is already taking delivery of PC-7 Mk. 2 aircraft from Pilatus under a contract for 75 such aircraft signed in 2012.
Pilatus will have to form a joint venture or establish a production arrangement with an Indian company to execute the contract.
A Request for Information (RFI) calls for delivery of aircraft and equipment to begin by 2015-16, with all 106 PC-7 Mk. 2’s to be delivered by 2020-21.
aviationweek

IAF to HAL: Build Swiss trainer aircraft, don't develop your own

Indian Air Force chief, Air Chief, has sugarcoated his bid to import 106 basic trainer aircraft from Pilatus Aircraft Co, by proposing that Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) build the trainers in Bangalore to blueprints supplied by the Swiss company.
HAL, which is designing its own basic trainer for the IAF - the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) - has flatly rejected the proposal. The company has allocated Rs 130 crore of its own money to continue developing the HTT-40, which is projected to fly by 2015.
Last year, the IAF purchased 75 PC-7 Mark II trainers for 557 million Swiss Francs . Pilatus has delivered at least 15 of those trainers.
When the purchase of 75 trainers from the global market was approved in 2009, it was decided that HAL would simultaneously design and build 106 trainers. But, in July,the IAF chief wrote to Minister, savaging HAL's proposal and recommending this order be handed to Pilatus.
business-standard

India commissions its first Pilatus aircraft

The Indian air force inducted the first 12 of 75 Swiss-manufactured Pilatus PC-7 Mk-II basic training aircraft at a ceremony at the Dundigal Air Force Academy near Hyderabad.
spacemart

Indian Air Force inducts PC-7 Mk-II turbo trainer aircraft into service

Swiss-made Pilatus PC-7 Mk-II turbo trainer aircraft was inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in a ceremony held at the Air Force Academy at Dundigal near Hyderabad on Friday.
The aircraft, which meets all basic training functions of ab-initio pilots including aerobatics, tactical and night flying, has been customised to meet the requirements of IAF.
thehindu

Botswana Defence Force receives PC-7 MKII

Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is proud to announce that the Formal Handover ceremony of the Botswana Defence Force PC-7 MkII Turbo Trainer Aircraft took place on 8 February 2013 in Gaborone.
His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Botswana and Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General Seretse Khama Ian Khama, members of the Defence Council, Botswana Defence Force General Officers, Retired Generals, Senior Government Officials and Defence attaches accredited to Botswana and a Pilatus delegation attended the event hosted by the Botswana Defence Force Commander Lt. Gen. Galebotswe.
This major milestone marks the successful completion of the delivery and entry into service of the five new BDF Pilatus PC-7 MkII aircraft.

pilatus-aircraft

India to exercise option for 37 PC-7 Mark IIs

The Indian Air Force will exercise its option for the Pilatus PC-7 Mark II and order 37 more aircraft. This will bring the total number ordered to 112.

The first three aircraft have been delivered to Air Force Academy at Dundigal and the first class to be instructed on the PC-7 will start in June.

business-standard

Indian Air Force Receives First Lot Of Pilatus PC-7 Trainers

The Indian Air Force has received the first lot of the new basic trainer aircraft 'PC-7 Mk-II' produced by the Pilatus aircraft company of Switzerland, which arrived today at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal near Hyderabad. The first lot of aircraft were flown in by the Swiss pilots and received at Air Force Academy by Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command, Air Marshal Rajinder Singh PVSM AVSM VM and Commandant AFA, Air Marshal RG Burli VM. The aircraft 'PC-7 Mk-II' is a modern trainer aircraft, equipped with the latest navigation system and training aids, and is being used by many Air Forces around the world. The IAF is to get 75 such aircrafts in the coming months. With the induction of the 'PC-7 Mk-II' aircraft, the IAF will be able to meet the long standing need of having a basic trainer aircraft post grounding of HPT-32 in July 2009.

Shiv Aroor-livefist

Indian Air Force’s PC-7 MkII and HAL Rudra Helicopter to be unveiled at Aero India

The Indian Air Force’s PC-7 MkII and HAL’s Rudra advanced light helicopter are some of the highlights of Aero India next month.

alert5
upi.com

India's 1st Pilatus PC-7 Mk.2 Trainer Emerges

Here's a photo of what is said to be the first Pilatus PC-7 Mk.2 basic trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

The IAF signed a contract with Switzerland's Pilatus for 75 PC-7 Mk.2 aircraft worth on May 24 this year, with deliveries to begin early 2013.

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Malaysia comprará seis Pilatus PC-7 adicionales/ RMAF requests six more PC-7 Mk II

La fuerza aérea de Malasia ha enviado una solicitud por seis Pilatus PC-7 Mk II de entrenamiento.
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Malaysia’s Air Force chief Gen Tan Sri Rodzali Daud said his service has requested money to buy six more Pilatus PC-7 Mk II trainers.
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