IAF-HAL tiff threatens to shatter indigenization quest
Rajat Pandit, TNN Jul 31, 2013, 02.20AM IST


NEW DELHI: India's quest to indigenize its military aviation sector has taken a sharp nosedive, with a bitter battle raging between the country's only aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) and its primary customer IAF on projects ranging from trainer aircraft to the futuristic fifth-generation fighter aircraft (FGFA).

The defence ministry, however, seems to be twiddling its thumbs in masterly inaction. IAF is aghast that HAL has proposed "surrendering 30% of its 50% work-share" in jointly developing the FGFA called Sukhoi T-50 or PAK-FA with Russia, while remains hell-bent on developing a basic trainer aircraft (BTA) that the force does not need.


The crucial FGFA project, which will see India spending $35 billion over the next two decades to acquire over 200 of the stealth "swing-role'' fighters, has run into turbulence with Russia jacking up costs, as was first reported by TOI earlier this month.

"HAL is shirking away from a strategic project like FGFA but wants to manufacture a BTA when IAF is already inducting Swiss Pilatus PC-7 trainers. IAF simply cannot have two BTA to train rookie pilots, with duplication in spares, maintenance, infrastructure etc," said a source.

HAL has a dismal track record of huge time and cost overruns in projects ranging from the ongoing 14-year-delay in the Sitara intermediate jet trainer (IJT) to the light combat helicopter and light utility helicopter. "Yes, indigenisation is critical. But operational requirements cannot also be compromised," he said.

IAF wants MoD to scrap HAL's project to develop the BTA dubbed HTT-40, which is on the drawing board stage and will take several years to materialise and prove much costlier than the Pilatus trainers already being inducted.

IAF has sought approval for acquisition of 37 more Pilatus trainers immediately, and an additional 68 at a later stage to meet the overall requirement, to add to the 75 such planes ordered for Rs 2,896 crore last year. Citing all these, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne has written to defence minister A K Antony to ask for "foreclosure" of the HAL project, say sources.

IAF on Tuesday stated the HTT-40 would prove to be "62% more expensive from 2017 onwards", when it will be ready, than the Pilatus. "Conversely, the first 75 Pilatus will be delivered by 2015. And if the option clause is exercised, 37 more Pilatus could be delivered by 2017," it said.

When the Swiss aircraft was ordered in May 2012 after a global selection process, it cost Rs 31 crore per plane. "Even at the 2011 price levels, each HTT-40 would cost Rs 43.59 crore, around 40% more than Pilatus," it added.

HAL, however, has its own set of figures to hold the HTT-40 will prove much cheaper than the Pilatus in the long run, apart from generating indigenous expertise. Amid the wrangling, MoD is showing no signs of resolving the dispute taking place right under its nose.

http://articles.timesofindia.indiati...te-jet-trainer