India Eyeing US Scorpion Jet Offer

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is keen on the US offer of Textron’s AirLand Scorpion light-attack and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft.

IAF recently asked HAL to stop work on the intermediate jet trainers (IJT) due to delays since its start in 1997. Instead, the Air force is planning to use twin-seat platform of the Textron’s ISR aircraft as an intermediate jet trainer, the Financial Express reported today.

Earlier this year, during US defence secretary Ashton Carter’s  visit to India, she signed a 10-year India-US Defence Framework Agreement and fast-tracked the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI).  Under the agreement, the two countries will co-develop and co-produce military equipment in India.

It was during this visit in June that the US offered the Textron AirLand Scorpion aircraft. It is estimated that Textron’s  Scorpion would cost less than $20 million to procure and around $3,000 per hour to operate. The US company has set a sales target of 2,000 platforms to international operators over the coming years.