123 Hawk trainers to be delivered by 2016: AK Antony

India is expecting to get delivery of all the 123 Hawk advanced jet trainers (AJTs) ordered for its air force and navy by 2016, the Rajya Sabha was informed Wednesday.

Defence Minister A.K. Antony said in a written reply that the government had signed an agreement in March 2004 with British firms BAE Systems and Rolls Royce Turbomeca UK for procurement of 24 Hawks, with state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) building another 42 planes under the technology transfer route.

These 66 planes are for the Indian Air Force (IAF) to take care of its needs to train rookie pilots and to fill the gap in training aircraft between its HJT-16 Kirans and MiG-21 supersonic s.

"All the 24 direct supply aircraft have been delivered by BAE Systems while 28 out of the 42 aircraft contracted with HAL had been delivered till July," Antony told the house.

He said the government had in July 2010 signed another contract with HAL for procurement of an additional 57 Hawk AJTs. "Of these, 40 are for the IAF and 17 are for the Indian Navy. The delivery of these aircraft will commence from 2013 and is expected to be completed by 2016," Antony added.