CAG raps IAF over purchase of Hawk aircraft in 2004

New Delhi, July 26 (PTI) The Comptroller and Auditor
General of India (CAG) has rapped the Indian Air Force for
buying the Hawk advanced trainer aircraft in 2004 on the basis
of its requirements in 1987, compromising operational and
training requirements of the service.

"The supply and production of the aircraft was based on
air staff requirements that were not reviewed since their
issue in 1987. The restriction in utilisation of aircraft
would compromise operational and training requirements," the
report said.

India had signed a contract with BAE Systems in 2004 to
supply 66 trainer aircraft, 24 of which were to be supplied in
the fly-away condition and the rest license-manufactured by
Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL).

The report also slammed the IAF for taking 22 years to
finalise the deal for the aircraft, the need for which was
felt in 1982 itself.

"Inordinate delay in acquisition of these trainer
aircraft, which is essential for improving the skills of IAF
pilots graduating from lower speed aircraft to advanced high
performance fighter aircraft, has affected pilot safety," it
said.

The CAG said due to pending integration of electronic
weapons suite, the aircraft could not be used for tactical
weapon training, limiting the operational use of the aircraft.

The Government auditors also revealed the anomalies in
the pricing of spares for the aircraft exceeding the
contracted rates.

"Scrutiny of prices for these spares revealed that the
firm had charged excess amount of UKP 8,37,108 for the fixed
spares as the pricing was done for each line item based on
unit price and contracted rates were not implemented," it
said.

Scrutinising the development of Intermediate Jet Trainer
(IJT) aircraft by HAL, CAG said the delay in manufacturing and
supply of trainer aircraft has denied the pilots the stage II
training opportunity on these aircraft. PTI AJD
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