India to spend 1.45 billion dollars on BAe trainer jets: officials

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

NEW DELHI (AFP) — India plans to buy 40 Hawk trainer jets for its air force from British Aerospace (BAe) in addition to 66 purchased for 1.45 billion dollars in 2004, officials said Wednesday.

The air force is in a hurry to acquire more trainers to ready rookie pilots for 126 new fighter aircraft India is set to acquire for more than 10 billion dollars later this year.

"The deal (for the 40 trainers) is now as good as done," a senior air force commander told AFP on condition of anonymity.

Other military officers said the Indian navy has separately demanded another 17 BAe trainers and the two proposals could be converted into a single contract.

"At 850 million rupees (21.8 million dollars) apiece, the tender for the air force alone will be 872 million...