Indian Air Force to Choose Winner of Basic Trainers Contract By End of 2011

Indian Air Force is getting ready to make its final decision on the purchase of 75 basic trainers to modernize its trainer fleet and replace its 114 ageing piston-engined HPT-32s and 137 Kiran-I & II aircraft.

This deal for 75 basic trainers will be worth Rs 2,900 crore $ 719 million. Indian government is is in the final stages of making a decision about the winner of the contract.

Swiss Pilatus PC-7 turbo basic trainer is considered as front runner in the competition due to its lower over all cost. Other participants include American Hawker-Beechcraft's T-6C Texan-II and South Korean Aerospace's KT-1.