news details |
|
|
| Indian airforce to get new planes, systems in 2007 | | |
Thu Oct 5,
NEW DELHI - India will acquire new aircraft, weapon systems and missiles from next year in a bid to boost the capabilities of the world's fourth-largest airforce, its chief said on Thursday.
Hawk Advanced Trainer Jets would come from Britain's BAE Systems Plc and an Airborne Warning and Control System (AWAC) would be acquired by 2007, Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi told a news conference ahead of annual Air Force Day on Oct. 8.
A airforce spokesman later told Reuters around 50 Hawks and three AWACS, built by Israel on Russian platforms, would be delivered next year.
Tyagi also said India was acquiring two types of missiles -- medium-long range missiles and quick-reaction missiles.
"On quick-reaction missiles all negotiations are over and we are awaiting final clearance," he said, adding the deal should be signed in a month or two.
Military analysts said India had been negotiating with Israel for the "Spyder" surface-to-air missiles to target low-flying aircraft, helicopters and unmanned drones.
In addition, India is also planning to purchase six new flight-refuelling aircraft and is also awaiting delivery of 80 medium-size helicopters from next year, Tyagi said.
Pravin Sawhney, editor of "Force", a leading defence magazine, welcomed the purchases and said the Hawks and AWACS would act as "force-multipliers", enhancing the capabilities of existing weapons platforms.
Tyagi said the airforce was also looking at buying 20 Jaguars and 20 Light Combat Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL), India's flagship aircraft manufacturing company.
The force was also accelerating the production of Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and upgrading its MiG series planes, he said.
The Indian air force has been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the Hawks, for which negotiations continued for nearly 20 years.
Analysts say the Hawks would help better train pilots and bring down the high rate of accidents, especially on the force's mainstay MiG-21 series fighter jets.
Out of nearly 800 MiG-21s that India's airforce has acquired since 1963, 330 have crashed, mostly due to human error, according to official figures.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
