Indian Aerobatics Team To Fly On Hawk Jets

  • 12:00 AM, September 14, 2012
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The Indian Air Force is all set to revive its aerobatics teams which it disbanded in 2011. Known as the Surya Kiran team, the IAF grounded the squad due to shortages in trainer aircraft. That, however, is about to change. The IAF will begin training pilots on Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) aircraft instead of the basic HJT-16 Kiran Mk-2 trainer aircraft which it previously used. Earlier this week, India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited sent out a RFP to BAE Systems for the supply of equipment for the development of 20 AJT aircraft. The latest acquisition takes the total number of Hawks to 143. The cost of the Hawk project will cost approximately $450 million.
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