India Selects Pilatus Basic Trainer!!!

[bhramos]

India has selected the Swiss Pilatus PC-7 aircraft as its beginning trainer for Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots.

The Swiss aircraft, along with Grob's G-120 TP, Embraer's EMB-312 Super Tucano, Finmeccanica's M-311, Hawker Beechcraft's T-6C Texan-II and Korean Aerospace's KT-1, participated in the flight trials last year.

"Of the three short-listed firms from the U.S., Korea and Switzerland, the bid made by Pilatus has emerged the lowest," says India's chief of air staff, Air Marshal P.V. Naik.

The total cost for the basic trainer is likely to be around $1 billion. The aircraft are expected to be delivered over the next two years.

"We have started price negotiations with the Swiss vendor for supplying 75 aircraft to train new pilots," Naik says.

After the Pilatus deal is signed, the IAF is likely to send some of its young pilots to Switzerland for training. "As we need a better trainer aircraft, we hope to induct the PC-7 into our fleet in the next two years for training the new pilots," Naik says.

The PC-7 turbo trainer is a low-wing tandem-seat training aircraft, capable of all basic training functions including aerobatics, instrument, tactical and night flying.

"Offering a reliable and economic training platform, the docile behavior of the PC-7 Mk. II in the hands of a beginner delivers a confidence-building environment for inexperienced cadets," the company says. "With its highly cost-efficient Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25C engine, it provides the lowest engine operating costs of all turboprop trainer aircraft."

The Swiss vendor has sold about 500 aircraft during the past three decades to 21 air forces worldwide.

Following the grounding of the indigenous HPT-32 Deepak trainers by the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. in 2009, the IAF has been scouting for a basic trainer.

India Selects Pilatus Basic Trainer | AVIATION WEEK

 

[SATISH]

Atlast, It is an awesome trainer....though tandem seated makes a good trainer aircraft.

 

[plugwater]

Why have we selected PC-7 with latest version PC-21 in active service ?

 

[ace009]

Why have we selected PC-7 with latest version PC-21 in active service ?

My guess would be price and speed of delivery.

 

[sandeepdg]

WTF !! We are buying the PC-7, and Dubai decided to buy the PC-21 (25 nos.) as a replacement for its PC-7 in 2009 for which deliveries have already begun. PC-7 is a 1979 design whereas the PC-21 is a 2002 design !!

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

i am very happy not because pilatus is chosen but american trainer is rejected.yahoooo!!!!!!!!

 

[heartrocker22]

@sandeepdg.
as the name suggest it is just for basic training purpose . this aircraft is capable of of all basic training functions including aerobatics, instrument, tactical and night flying. so y waste money on more costly upgraded version of same basic trainer ...
when u want to learn drivng what would u choose as ur training vehicle.... cheapest of the lot (probably a used maruti 100)at the same time, will train u properly enough to take on roads...... our govt has done the same..
typical indian mentality lolllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

 

[gogbot]

WTF !! We are buying the PC-7, and Dubai decided to buy the PC-21 (25 nos.) as a replacement for its PC-7 in 2009 for which deliveries have already begun. PC-7 is a 1979 design whereas the PC-21 is a 2002 design !!

This is very much a stop gap purchase. Training capabilities were compromised by our current trainers , immediate replacement was needed.

In long and medium term we have our own HTT-40

 

[Godless-Kafir]

The idea of spreading your eggs in more baskets could also mean your basket may go empty! Why could HAL not be asked to Design one like this? Would it be harder to ask them build an prop plain rather than a jet plain? Such attitudes i don't understand, we buy small guns and towed howitzers which are the easiest things to ingeniousness but we make missiles and rockets. Why not just stick with ESA and NASA for launch! Morons.

 

[ace009]

The idea of spreading your eggs in more baskets could also mean your basket may go empty! Why could HAL not be asked to Design one like this? Would it be harder to ask them build an prop plain rather than a jet plain? Such attitudes i don't understand, we buy small guns and towed howitzers which are the easiest things to ingeniousness but we make missiles and rockets. Why not just stick with ESA and NASA for launch! Morons.

It is a question of capability versus cost effectiveness. New technology vs Mass Production. There are 14+ countries and 25+ companies which makes small weapons. About 10+ companies make basic artillery. Buying from the market is always cheaper and wise when a product is easily available on the market. For items which are not mass produced (Fighters, Missiles, Aircraft Carriers) a country is better of developing and customizing it. Development of such complex technology also helps in economic development, job creation, spin-off technologies and increasing knowledge-base. It also ensures certain level of secrecy and security from rival powers. Secrecy and security are not that important for mass produced items.

 

[lambu]

Swiss Pilatus set to supply 75 trainer jets to IAF: Report

Switzerland's aviation giant Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is set to enter into the biggest contract yet for supplying 75 basic trainer aircraft at a cost of about USD 1 billion to the Indian Air Force, a media report said today.The Swiss company hopes to sign the contract soon, with the first consignment of 12 aircraft to be delivered in 24 months, said Swiss economic daily Le Temp.

Swiss Pilatus set to supply 75 trainer jets to IAF: Report | idrw.org

 

[Armand2REP]

This is a shame. India cannot even build basic trainers!

 

[plugwater]

This is a shame. India cannot even build basic trainers!

We are making both basic(HTT-40) and intermediate(HJT-36) trainers!

Picture of both from last edition of Aero India.

 

[Armand2REP]

This is NOT a trainer... it is a model. You cannot train your pilots with a toy.

 

[plugwater]

This is NOT a trainer... it is a model. You cannot train your pilots with a toy.

Everything starts with a model. We are going to buy only 75 pieces from Swiss but we need a total of 200 so i think remaining aircrafts will be our HTT-40.

 

[gogbot]

This is a shame. India cannot even build basic trainers!

We Already built trainer's long ago

, these are the stop gap for those trainers that have now ended their service lives.

HTT-40 has only recently been proposed and the HTT-34 have been grounded once before.

IAF wants replacements while it waits for the HTT-40 , it cannot risk grounding the entire training fleet again.

 

[Armand2REP]

So why not build an upgraded HTT-34 until the HTT-40 comes out? Because the HPT-32 is too problem prone to keep flying according to Chief Air Marshal PV Naik. If India could build one, it would.

 

[bhramos]

So why not build an upgraded HTT-34 until the HTT-40 comes out? Because the HPT-32 is too problem prone to keep flying according to Chief Air Marshal PV Naik. If India could build one, it would.

if HAL/IAF wanted new trianer. they would have started long time ago, If you start now, it will take years, as all of us know the capability of HAL.

 

[gogbot]

So why not build an upgraded HTT-34 until the HTT-40 comes out? Because the HPT-32 is too problem prone to keep flying according to Chief Air Marshal PV Naik. If India could build one, it would.

As mentioned by Brhamos

but also the fact that IAF does not want its entire fleet grounded by an accident again.
They are giving themselves options with this purchase , in-case HPT-32 has to be grounded again.

They have used the HPT-32 since the 1980's , they have not requested a replacement till the grounding in 2009.
HTT-40 is a response to that , and it wont be available for at least another 7 years.

 

[bhramos]

$1-bn IAF deal for Swiss basic trainers grounded

The $1 billion deal to purchase new basic trainers for the Indian Air Force (IAF) has been put on hold after serious allegations have surfaced about discrepancies in the procurement process. The defence ministry is taking a re-look at the selection process following a request from South Korea to investigate concerns about the validity of commercial documents submitted by a Swiss firm that was declared as the lowest bidder.

The procurement process has now been slowed down as the ministry as well as the IAF is scrutinising the selection process. As reported by The Indian Express, Swiss firm Pilatus had emerged as the cheapest when commercial bids were opened in May this year, making it the automatic winner of the competition to provide 75 basic trainers to the IAF.

However, sources said that serious allegations have now cropped up that have necessitated a re-look, including a charge that incomplete commercial bids were submitted by the Swiss firm and certain charges like transfer of technology costs were not factored in. "We are looking into the matter and if there are any discrepancies, action will be taken as per the Defence Procurement Procedure," an official said.

$1-bn IAF deal for Swiss basic trainers grounded - Indian Express