Uncertainty on more Hawk AJTs

The Indian Air Force’s plan to induct 20 more Hawk advanced jet trainers for the Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team (SKAT)has not progressed over the issue of steep increase in aircraft prices. The IAF had moved the proposal to buy these 20 AJTs from BAE Systems

during the UPA regime as it wanted to replace the Kiran Mk IIs. “The deal has been stuck over the price issue for more than two years now as the price demanded is way beyond the benchmark which the Defence Ministry had set for the project,” according to IAF sources.