MoD rapped for delay in aircraft purchase

The Defence Ministry has been rapped by a parliamentary panel for inordinate delay in approving the development of an indigenous basic trainer aircraft,with the panel contending that the delay has consequences for defence preparedness.

In a report on the training of pilots in the Air Force,the Public Accounts Committee expressed its displeasure at the inordinate delay in induction of trainer aircraft,both imported as well as indigenously manufactured,and the inability of the Defence Ministry to foresee implication of such delay on our defence preparedness.

While the Air Force did procure the Swiss Pilatus trainer last year,it has been pulled up by the panel for delaying the development of an indigenous aircraft that was of dire need. Worse,the inordinate delay in indigenisation of trainer aircraft after approval of design and development in June 2011 led to cost escalation which cannot be condoned or overlooked8230;, the panel has noted in its report.