IAF's first Swiss Pilatus trainer aircraft arrives in India

[S-DUCT]

IndiaIAF's first Swiss Pilatus trainer aircraft arrives in India - The Economic Times
NEW DELHI: The first of the 75 Swiss Pilatus trainer aircraft procured by the IAF under a Rs 2,800 crore deal to train its rookie pilots today landed at Jamnagar in Gujarat.

The fleet of 75 aircraft will help in replacing the fleet of HPT-32 basic trainers which were grounded after a fatal crash in 2009, senior IAF officials said here today. The Pilatus plane flew in from the firm's headquarters in Stans in Switzerland for its maiden flight.

Government of India had signed a contract with the Swiss firm in May last year after the approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security(CCS).

In view of the urgent need of the IAF to train its pilots, the Swiss firm had assured the force that it will start the delivery of the aircraft by the last quarter of 2012.

The IAF is procuring the aircraft together with an integrated ground based training system and a comprehensive logistics support package.

The IAF is also planning to seek more Pilatus trainer aircraft from the Swiss firm which could see another 100 aircraft being procured from there.

According to the contract, Pilatus will also do a transfer of technology to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for maintenance of the fleet for the next 30 years.

Pilatus will also do offsets to the tune of 30 per cent of the deal which would be close to around Rs 800 crore

 

[Koovie]

Good news, we seriously lack in trainer aircraft.

 

[Rajaraja Chola]

Good Thing !! Now hope the HAL builds them fast enough. Pilots training is at risk.

 

[Skull and Bones]

I wanted Super Tucano to win the competition. Oh well, whatever trains the pilots well.

 

[S-DUCT]

I wanted Super Tucano to win the competition. Oh well, whatever trains the pilots well.

what a WW2 era plane loaded with modern missiles,bombs?

 

[Skull and Bones]

what a WW2 era plane loaded with modern missiles,bombs?

For CAS operation, nothing is more economical than a turbo prop airplane. When it's running cost per hour is $300-400 including maintenance, and the same will exceed $25,000 for Rafale.

After all, we are not US, who employs tactical ballistic missiles to kill donkeys in the middle of the desert.

 

[Roybot]

I wanted Super Tucano to win the competition. Oh well, whatever trains the pilots well.

PC-7 can be armed too.

 

[Skull and Bones]

PC-7 can be armed too.

Hurr Hurr...I can carry Rocket pods and machine guns on motor cycle. Can it carry LGBs?

 

[Roybot]

Hurr Hurr...I can carry Rocket pods and machine guns on motor cycle. Can it carry LGBs?

It can't be that hard to do that. If it can be done on the super tucano it can be done on PC-7 too.

 

[Capt.Popeye]

For CAS operation, nothing is more economical than a turbo prop airplane. When it's running cost per hour is $300-400 including maintenance, and the same will exceed $25,000 for Rafale.

After all, we are not US, who employs tactical ballistic missiles to kill donkeys in the middle of the desert.

There is something in between as well. The armed Hawk AJT. That is the option that the IAF has and will use if needed.

 

[Skull and Bones]

It can't be that hard to do that. If it can be done on the super tucano it can be done on PC-7 too.

Obviously it can be, given that they have made provisions for it. Like attaching a targeting pod.

 

[Abingdonboy]

I wanted Super Tucano to win the competition. Oh well, whatever trains the pilots well.

PC-7 can be armed too.

It can't be that hard to do that. If it can be done on the super tucano it can be done on PC-7 too.

There is something in between as well. The armed Hawk AJT. That is the option that the IAF has and will use if needed.

The IAF wanted a basic TRAINER a/c NOT a CAS turbo-prop platform. The Hawk and PC-7 will only be armed in IAF service to train IAF pilots in such techniques but not to be used in live operations, the sole purpose of these a/c in the IAF is TRAINING.



The IAF does not employ any fixed-wing a/c in CI CAS missions to date and has ruled out such missions for the most part. As such a system like the Super Tucano is not needed for India.

RIP HTT-40 then:

The IAF is also planning to seek more Pilatus trainer aircraft from the Swiss firm which could see another 100 aircraft being procured from there.

Source: http://www.defence.pk/forums/indian-defence/232705-iafs-first-swiss-pilatus-trainer-aircraft-arrives-india.html#ixzz2JgF3xyKa

Had assumed this for some time but this is confirmation.

 

[anant_s]

About time!
Basic trainers should have been the first (& topmost) priorities of people in charge of procurement. While money is being spent on big ticket sales like Apache (not saying it is unjustified), Trainers and simulators are just as important if not more. You want your pilots to be just as top notch as the fighters that are being inducted.

 

[Archie]

For CAS operation, nothing is more economical than a turbo prop airplane. When it's running cost per hour is $300-400 including maintenance, and the same will exceed $25,000 for Rafale.

After all, we are not US, who employs tactical ballistic missiles to kill donkeys in the middle of the desert.

Actually the Funny thing is that Once the Jaguars and Mig 27 are Retired from Service , it would be the Rafale that would be used for providing CAS

 

[Sergi]

Finally !!!
.