India to sign $775 million jet deal with BAE Systems

British defence group BAE Systems will supply 57 Hawk training jets to India's air force and navy, a senior defence ministry official said on Wednesday, a contract which is potentially worth $775 million.

BAE will supply 40 trainer jets to the air force and the remainder to the navy, a senior air force official said.

The contract between BAE Systems and state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will be signed in Bangalore on Wednesday, where British prime minister David Cameron is currently visiting, the official said in New Delhi.

Cameron, who is on his first visit to India since taking office in May, leads a delegation including six ministers and more than 30 senior executives from top UK firms, to show that Britain is serious about boosting economic exchanges with the Asian giant.