India to buy Hawk spares for Rs 483 crore

British defence and aerospace major BAE Systems has bagged a £59 million (Rs 483 crore) Indian contract to provide spares and ground support equipment for Hawk-132 advanced jet trainers.

British defence and aerospace major BAE Systems has bagged a £59 million (Rs 483 crore) Indian contract to provide spares and ground support equipment for Hawk-132 advanced jet trainers.

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The company said in statement on Monday that with the latest order, the total value of Hawk-related contracts won in India in the last 18 months stood at more than £600 million (Rs 4,920 crore).

India had signed a contract with BAE Systems to buy 57 Hawk advanced jet trainers last year. It was a follow-on order to a 2004 contract for 66 such trainers for the Indian Air Force. The Hawks have simplified pilot training by serving as a bridge between subsonic trainers and supersonic fighters such as Sukhoi-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, Jaguar and MiG variants that Indian combat pilots finally fly.

Hawk is manufactured in India under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited with materials, parts and support services provided by BAE Systems.