Parliament Questions on India's Defence on December 6, 2009

TRAINER AIRCRAFT IN AIR FORCE

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has presently grounded its entire fleet of initial trainer HPT-32 aircraft following a fatal accident on July 31, 2009. A total number of 17 HPT-32 aircraft have crashed till date and 19 pilots have lost their lives in these accidents. The total loss suffered as a result of these accidents amounts to Rs. 16,21,35,054/-. Each crash of Defence aircraft is investigated through a Court of Inquiry and remedial measures are undertaken accordingly. Preliminary design work on the turbo prop trainer aircraft has already commenced in the Aircraft Research & Design Centre of HAL.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Anandrao Adsul and others in Lok Sabha today.

FUNCTIONING OF DRDO

The report of Dr. P Rama Rao Committee is currently under examination with the Government. The recommendations of the committee are for realigning of external interfaces of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with other Departments for better functioning of DRDO. The recommendations also deal with restructuring of organisation and empowerment of work centres through decentralisation.

The Government will take action on the recommendation once the examination of the report of the Dr. Rama Rao Committee is complete.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Pradeep Majhi and Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab in Lok Sabha today.

PROCUREMENT OF SUKHOI AIRCRAFT

In addition to licensed manufacture of 140 SU-30 aircraft by M/s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a contact for procurement of additional 40 SU-30 MKI was signed with M/s HAL in 2007. Out of these three aircraft have been delivered to the Indian Air Force and delivery of the remaining aircraft is expected to be completed by 2011-12.

The manufacturing of the aircraft will be under Transfer of Technology agreement between M/s HAL and M/s Resoboronexport, Russia. M/s HAL would be procuring the technical kits from Russia and assembling the aircraft.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri L Raja Gopal in Lok Sabha today.

PROCUREMENT OF LCA

A contract for procurement of 20 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) in Initial Operation Clearance (IOC) configuration, along with associated role equipment, reserve engines, engine support package, engine test bed and computer based training (CBT) package from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was signed in March 2006. The total contract cost is Rs. 2701.70 crores. The specifications of the aircraft are as per the Air Service Requirements framed by the Indian Air Force. Delivery of the aircraft is expected to commence after IOC is achieved.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Pradeep Majhi in Lok Sabha today.

REPLACEMENT OF CHEETAH HELICOPTERS

The Request for Proposal for replacing the Cheetah helicopters was issued in July 2008 to six vendors. Three vendors, namely, (i) M/s Augusta Westland, Italy (ii) M/s Eurocopter, France and (iii) M/s Rosoboronexport, Russia, have responded. Further action as per the existing procedures including Defence Procurement Procedure, 2008 is underway.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri Dhruva Narayana in Lok Sabha today.