MoD blames BAE Systems in parliament for the Hawk production delay

Seven and a half months after Broadsword reported (on 2nd Sept 09) that HAL squarely blamed BAE Systems for the delays in producing the "raw" (i.e. built from ground up, as opposed to built from CKD or SKD kits) Hawk trainers in India, the MoD today corroborated what HAL Chairman, Ashok Nayak, told me in August. The statement made by the MoD in parliament today is appended below.

When that article was going to press BAE Systems called me up and vociferously denied anything to do with the delays. They also denied it in writing; my article carried in my article. Go back to 2nd Sept for another look.

-------------------

PRESS INFORMATION BUREAU (DEFENCE WING) GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

*********

DELAY IN SUPPLY OF AJTs BY HAL

New Delhi: Vaisakha 02, 1932

April 22, 2010

Delivery of 42 (Hawk-AJT) aircraft was scheduled from 2007-2008 to 2010 – 2011 in a phased manner. Three aircraft were to be built from semi-knocked down (SKD) kits, three from completely knocked down (CKD) kits and 36 from raw material phase. The CKD and SKD kits were assembled on schedule. When production in raw material phase was taken up, it was found that the equipment supplied by the OEM had various shortcomings. The assembly jigs that were supplied did not meet the requirements, there was mismatch in the kits/components supplied, there were defects in major assemblies like the wing spar etc. These problems took time to overcome and hence affected the production schedule at HAL.

HAL has manufactured 12 aircraft till now, three in the year 2008-2009 and nine in the year 2009-2010, including the first aircraft from raw material phase. The Air Force is not facing any acute shortage of trained pilots and the delay in delivery schedule of AJTs by HAL is not affecting the Air Force. Indian Air Force is meeting its requirement by utilizing the existing resources for training of pilots

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Shri MM Pallam Raju in written reply to Smt Mohsina Kidwai in Rajya Sabha today.

By:BROADSWORD