New Delhi
The Indian Airforce also lacks fighter aircraft as well as trainer aircraft. To overcome this, the deal to buy a trainer aircraft has been signed from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and this trainer aircraft is expected to meet September this year. The trainer is also considering the option of taking the aircraft on lease to meet the aircraft shortage. This information has been given to the Parliamentary Committee of Defense Affairs by the Ministry of Defense.
When the Parliamentary Committee asked the Ministry of Defense about the number of Air Force trainer aircraft and simulators, the Ministry of Defense said in its reply that the trainer aircrafts that the Airforce have are basic trainer aircraft, intermediate jet trainer and advanced jet trainer. All are simulators of modern aircraft. A total of 14 simulators are available for training near the Air Force.
Basic trainer option to take aircraft lease
The Ministry of Defense said that currently the Air Force is short of trainer aircraft. To meet this shortage, the deal of 70 HTT-40 indigenous trainer aircraft has been signed with HAL. Whose delivery is to be done from September this year. When these trainers are operationalized in the aircraft Airforce, 36 additional HTT-40 will be taken. The Ministry of Defense said that the Air Force Basic Trainer is also considering the option to take on the aircraft lease.
Right now the number of trainer aircraft is around 260
About two years ago, the Cabinet Committee on Security approved the 70 HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft for the Air Force. Then it was said that in six years all these 70 trainer aircraft will be found by the Airforce. According to sources, the Air Force currently has a number of trainer aircraft around 260 while the approved number is 388. The Air Force has 75 aircraft PC-7 Mark-2 basic trainers as a trainer aircraft. There are 86 Kiran Mark-1 and Mark 1A which is an introduced jet trainer. 99 Hawk Mark-132 is an advanced jet trainer and 42 are Kiran Mark Two.
Complete program of professional military education
On behalf of the Air Force, the Parliamentary Committee was told that the Air Force is technically sensitive service. Therefore, training and skill development of air warriors is an important part of human resource development. For this, there is a complete program of professional military education in service related courses. It was told by the Air Force that there has been a lot of emphasis on the use of simulator in training. Now most of the simulators are being included in the Air Force are from indigenous sources.
