NEWS
The Indian Air Force (IAF), whose training fleet is at present in a squeeze, has received the go ahead from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to acquire, “off the shelf”, 75 basic trainer aircraft. The ministry’s decision comes in response to an urgent call from the IAF for an ab initio trainer. After the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) designed and manufactured Hindustan Piston Trainer-32 (HPT-32) was grounded last August, the force was left without an aircraft of this class to train flight cadets. Official sources confirmed that the IAF will shortly issue a request for proposal (RFP) to a number of basic turbo prop aircraft manufacturers in an effort to choose an appropriate trainer.

VIEWS
With the grounding of the fleet of HPT-32 basic trainer aircraft, triggered by a spate of accidents owing to sudden engine stoppage in flight, the IAF appears to be in a crisis to a large extent of its own making. Either on the basis of a requirement projected by the IAF or on its own initiative, HAL issued an RFI to six aircraft manufacturers abroad to explore options for partnership to design and develop a turboprop trainer aircraft to replace the HPT-32. HAL believes the new aircraft designated as the Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT)-40 can be ready by 2015. The total order is expected to be 200-plus for the IAF and the Indian Navy. Incidentally, two years ago, HAL had reportedly offered to develop a replacement for the HPT-32 and deliver within six years but as per HAL, there was no response from the IAF.

Even as HAL scouts for a partner to avoid the need to ‘reinvent the wheel’, there are reports that the MoD has acquiesced to the proposal from the IAF to acquire through outright purchase 75 trainer aircraft to tide over the crisis. Reports claim the IAF plans to issue RFP to the six manufacturers with whom HAL is already in dialogue. Reports in the media do not indicate at any coordination between simultaneous initiatives by the IAF and the HAL notwithstanding the fact that both the organisations are under the MoD. Action by the IAF, therefore, could be construed to be an exercise designed to bypass HAL and is perhaps a manifestation of the lack of confidence in the capability of the Indian aerospace major to deliver on fast track. It goes without saying that such a perception would be vehemently countered by HAL.

However, it is expected that the MoD would be in the process of evaluating the available options and, at some point in time, the two organisations would be directed to synergise their efforts and zero in on one manufacturer to acquire a few in fly-away condition and produce the rest in the country. For obvious reasons, it would not be prudent to have trainers of different types for the same stage of basic training. Collaboration would help HAL deliver in respectable time frame as also provide an opportunity to break into the global market which would have been extremely difficult if not impossible through entirely indigenous effort.