Defence Ministry clears 38 Swiss trainers for IAF, long-term naval project for 12 mine-hunting warships

NEW DELHI: The defence ministry on Saturday cleared "a compromise formula" in the ongoing bitter tussle between IAF and defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics over acquiring basic training aircraft (BTA) for rookie pilots.

The defence acquisitions council (DAC) led by Manohar Parrikar also gave the go-ahead to the long-term Rs 32,000 crore naval project to indigenously construct 12 critically-required warships that detect, track and destroy underwater mines. IAF also got the nod to buy one more American C-130J Super Hercules aircraft for Rs 533 crore to replace the one which had crashed near Gwalior on March 28 last year, killing the five personnel on board.

But the DAC deferred the decision to set the ball rolling for the purchase of at least 12 ShinMaywa US-2i amphibious aircraft for around $1.3 billion, which is likely to be the first-ever purchase of military equipment from Japan as part of the expanding bilateral strategic partnership. "Further discussions are needed in the US-2i project... but we will acquire them eventually," a source said.

The clear takeaway from the DAC, however, was the decision to clear the additional procurement of 38 Swiss Pilatus PC-7 basic trainers for Rs 1,450 crore for the IAF despite HAL's stiff opposition. Having already inducted the bulk of the 75 Pilatus BTA ordered in May 2012 for Rs 2,896 crore, the IAF wanted to go in for another 106 of these planes for its raw trainee pilots.

The IAF contention was that two types of BTA would be both "exorbitant" and "illogical" in terms of duplication in spares, maintenance, infrastructure and the like. But HAL insisted its under-development BTA called HTT-40 should also be accepted by IAF.

The DAC on Saturday decided that while IAF could buy 38 more Pilatus under the "option clause" of the original deal, HAL would meet the remaining BTA requirement through development of the HTT-40. "Adequate orders will be given to HAL to make it a commercially viable project. The DAC will review the project periodically," said the source.

While pilot training has been a critical issue for IAF, the Navy is grappling with "a big operational gap" in mine countermeasure vessels (MCMVs). India is down to just seven old minesweepers, one of which is pure junk, when at least 24 are required to protect harbours from enemy mines on the east and west coasts.

A long-pending deal for eight South Korean MCMVs was scrapped last year due to allegations of agents having vitiated the entire selection process. Two MCMVs were to be acquired from Kangnam Shipyard for Rs 2,700 crore under it, while Goa Shipyard was to build the next six for over Rs 6,000 crore after technology transfer.

"Now Goa Shipyard will build 12 MCMVs with foreign collaboration. The whole project will begin afresh with the issuance of a tender. Kangnam can participate since it has not been blacklisted. It will take a decade for the MCMVs to roll out," he said.