Cabinet approves Rs6,828 crore procurement of 70 basic trainer aircraft.
- dinakaran1125
- Mar 2, 2023
- 3 min read
The Indian Cabinet Committee on Security, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the purchase of 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force. The cost of this procurement will be ₹6,828.36 crore.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Defence, the 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft ordered by the Indian Air Force will be supplied over a period of six years.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced on Twitter that the Indian Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the procurement of 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft at a cost of ₹6,828.36 crores.
As per the Ministry of Defence, the HTT-40 aircraft will be produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a state-run aerospace company, and is designed to be a turboprop aircraft with good low-speed handling qualities. The aim is to provide better training effectiveness for pilots.
The Ministry of Defence stated that the HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft will be fully aerobatic and have a tandem seat design. The cockpit will be air-conditioned, and it will also have modern avionics, hot re-fueling, running changeover, and zero-zero ejection seats.
Additionally, the procurement will include associated equipment and training aids, including simulators. The acquisition of the aircraft will address the shortage of basic trainer aircraft in the Indian Air Force and aid in the training of newly inducted pilots.
The Ministry of Defence also mentioned that as the aircraft is an indigenous solution, it can be configured for upgrades to incorporate the futuristic requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.
This means that the HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft has the potential to be adapted to meet the changing needs of the Indian military in the future.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the procurement decision for the HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft will create new opportunities for hundreds of MSMEs (Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) and generate thousands of jobs.
This suggests that the purchase of the aircraft will not only benefit the Indian Air Force but also contribute positively to the Indian economy.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also expressed that the procurement decision for the HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft is a significant step towards strengthening India's self-reliance in defence.
This implies that the acquisition of these indigenous aircraft will reduce the country's reliance on foreign suppliers and enhance its capacity to develop and manufacture its defence equipment.
The HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft is reported to have around 56% indigenous content at present, and this number is expected to increase progressively to over 60% through the indigenization of major components and subsystems.
This means that the development of the aircraft involves a significant degree of local expertise and resources, contributing to India's self-reliance in the defence sector.
The Ministry of Defence has stated that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will engage Indian private industry, including MSMEs, in its supply chain for the HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft.
The acquisition has the potential to create direct employment for approximately 1,500 people and indirect employment for up to 3,000 people, spread over more than 100 MSMEs.
This suggests that the procurement decision will have a positive impact on India's domestic defence industry and the broader economy by generating employment opportunities.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the acquisition of the HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft will provide a boost to the Indian Aerospace Defence ecosystem and contribute to the efforts towards achieving 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India).
This indicates that the purchase of the aircraft aligns with the Indian government's larger vision of promoting domestic manufacturing and reducing the country's reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly in the defence sector.
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