UK firm fined for supplying defective parts to IAF

(ZEE News)New Delhi: The Defence Ministry today said it has fined British defence major BAE Systems for supplying defective components for the Hawk AJT aircraft for the IAF.

The defective components caused delays in supply of the aircraft by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to IAF, which had to modify its training plan for its young pilots on the Hawk advanced jet trainer, Defence Minister A K Antony told Lok Sabha in reply to a written query.
"In view of the delay in delivery of Hawk by HAL due to the receipt of defective components, jigs and fixtures from the foreign manufacturer, on whom liquidated damages have been levied, the original training plan by Hawk AJT for 2010-11 has been modified," he said.

Hawks were inducted into the IAF in 2008 with an aim of replacing Kiran Mk II and MiG 21 aircraft for flying training. "Pilots of IAF are being trained on the MiG 21 aircraft," he said.

In 2004, a contract was signed with the UK for supplying 66 Hawks of which 24 were to be manufactured in Britain and rest were to be license-produced at HAL facilities in the country.

Due to the supply of defective items by BAE systems, the delivery schedule of the aircraft has been adversely affected.

BAE Systems supplies the components of the aircraft to the HAL in complete or semi knocked down kits and they are assembled by the Indian aircraft manufacturer at its lines in Bangalore.

Recently, India signed an agreement with BAE Systems for procuring another 57 aircraft of which 40 will be for IAF and the rest will go to the Navy.

Answering another query, Antony said the available strength of pilots and personnel below officers ranks was enough to meet the current operational requirements of IAF.

"The ab initio cost of training of a fighter pilot in the IAF at 2008-09 rates is Rs 13.70 crore approximately," he said.