The Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) famed aerobatic team, Surya Kiran, is in the process of a makeover. But it will be the Hawk Mk-132 Advanced Jet trainer (AJT).
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF’s) famed aerobatic team, Surya Kiran, is in the process of a makeover. But it will be the Hawk Mk-132 Advanced Jet trainer (AJT), and not the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) as decided earlier, which will replace the Kiran-Mk2 that are being used by the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (Skat).
This replacement would mean that the Skat would not be performing for at least five years. This is because the conversion from the basic jet trainer Kiran-Mk2 to the AJT Hawk-132 is expected to take five years as Bangalore-based Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), will have to first complete its earlier commitment to the IAF of manufacturing and delivering the aircraft primarily for training purpose.
Last year, the IAF and Indian Navy placed orders for 40 and 17 aircraft respectively, which will be delivered by 2014-15.
Once HAL completes these deliveries, it would start the production of the 22 aircraft for Skat. This would be around 2016, IAF officials coordinating with HAL, said.
With this scenario, for the first time since Aero India began in 1996, there will be no Skat at the ninth edition of Aero India in February 2013.
“It’s (AJT Hawk-132’s) induction into Skat (No 52 Squadron) would take about five to six years. Thereafter you have the pilot’s conversion, training etc. All these cannot be hurried with an aerobatic team which performs daredevil stunts,” said a senior IAF official.
The Skat is among only three teams in the world performing daredevil aerobatics with a nine-aircraft formation. The team’s last performance was at the Aero India 2011, this year.
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