The Indian Air Force will be soon getting deliveries of 75 Pilatus PC-7 Mk ll turbo basic trainer from Switzerland. The IAF urgently needs basic trainers before putting the pilots on to more modern fighter aircraft which it is acquiring.

Switzerland’s Pilat us Aircraft is set to enter into the biggest contract yet for supplying 75 basic trainer aircraft at a cost of about Rs. 2,900 crore to the Indian Air Force. The Swiss company hopes to sign the contract soon, with the first consignment of 12 aircraft to be delivered in 24 months.

Following the government’s decision to ground HP-32 Deepak, manufactured by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, the Indian Air Force is understood to have pressed for an immediate replacement. India had called for offers for trainer aircraft in 2009. The company supplied over 500 trainer aircraft largely to countries in the Middle East.

The Rs. 2,900 crore deal for acquiring 75 Swiss Pilatus PC-7 MK II turbo basic trainers is in the final stages now, with the “note” prepared for the Cabinet Committee on Security being “vetted” by the Finance Ministry at present.

Though the Pilatus trainer had emerged the cheapest among other contenders like American Hawker-Beechcraft’s T-6C Texan-II and Korean Aerospace’s KT-1 after flight trials, it was dogged by some allegations of irregularities in the procurement process. But MoD has dismissed them, holding the negotiations were completed with the Swiss company based on “its absolutely valid commercial offer”.