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Rs.2900 cr IAF BTA procurement proposal to be finalized this financial year |
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Written by Anand
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Tuesday, 06 September 2011 |
New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony said that the proposal for procurement of Basic Trainer Aircraft (BTA) for the Indian Air Force is expected to be finalized during the current financial year. The Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued on 16th December 2009. The estimated cost of the procurement is Rs.2900 crore.
In response techno-commercial proposals were received from Korean Aircraft Industries, South Korea; GROB Aircraft, Germany; EADS PZL, Poland; Hawker Beechcraft, United States of America; Alenia Aerammachi, Italy; Aerostar of Romania; and Pilatus, Switzerland.
The proposal for procurement of the trainer aircraft is being progressed in accordance with the Defence Procurement Procedure-2008.
He said that no issues which are considered critical to flight safety had emerged during the technical evaluation of the aircraft.
IAF's fleet of HPT-32 trainer aircraft has been grounded since August, 2009 after a crash of an aircraft on 28th July, 2009 due to engine failure. In order to improve the reliability of the engine, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is implementing certain modifications on the engine and air frame including integrating a system called Aircraft Parachute Recovery System. |
