Delay in Hawk delivery schedules

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 Delay in Hawk delivery schedules
 Delay in Hawk delivery schedules

Ravi Sharma

Technical hitches found in some of the British-manufactured aircraft

BANGALORE: Delivery schedules of the Hawk Mk 132 Advanced Jet Trainer are being delayed by a month or two owing to technical hitches in some of the British manufactured aircraft supplied to the Indian Air Force.

As per the latest reworked schedule, all 24 Hawks that are to be built by the BAE Systems were to be delivered before June end.

But with the Air Force highlighting a few, albeit minor technical issues most notably, in a few of the Hawks delivered, the BAE Systems has been asked to rectify these before further deliveries are made.

Senior Air Force officers said the technical issues concerned “corrosion in some hydraulic pipelines,” oxygen leaks and a malfunctioning of the Quick disconnect Equipment Connector

So far the BAE Systems has flown in 12 Hawks to India. The aircraft are stationed at Air Force Station (AFS) Bidar, Karnataka.

The officers, who were associated with the Hawk induction told The Hindu that the BAE Systems was aware of the shortcomings and had taken steps to rectify them.
$1.75 billion contract

India had signed a $1.75 billion contract to buy 66 Hawks. While 24 aircraft will come under the direct supply route, the rest will be license built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) here.

Confirming that the Air Force had raised the shortcomings with the BAE Systems, Air Marshal V. R. Iyer, who recently took over as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Training Command Air Force, said these issues were understandable as the Mk 132 was being tailor-made for the Indian Air Force.

“With the Hawks our pilots can be trained too much higher levels. They will be much better prepared and be better products. We are hoping to have 30 Hawks by January 2009,” he said.

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Source
http://www.hindu.com/2008/06/09/stories/2008060954291100.htm