CCS Allows Procurement Of 70 Basic Trainer Aircraft For Rs 6,828 Cr.

The Indian Air Force will spend Rs 6,828 crore to buy 70 HTT-40 basic trainer planes. This was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said that the planes will be sent over a six-year period.

Singh said on Twitter, “The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is led by Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, has approved the purchase of 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft for Rs. 6,828.36 crores.”

The defence ministry said that the HTT-40, which is made by the state-run aerospace company Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, is a turboprop plane that is made to be easy to control at low speeds and make training more effective.

Singh said that the decision to buy will create thousands of new jobs and open up new opportunities for hundreds of MSMEs (Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises).

“It’s a big step towards making India more self-sufficient in defence,” he said.

The HTT-40 has about 56% local content, which the ministry says will gradually rise to over 60% as major parts and subsystems are made locally.

“In its supply chain, the HAL would work with Indian private industry, including MSMEs. The procurement could give direct jobs to about 1,500 people and indirect jobs to up to 3,000 people spread out over more than 100 MSMEs “In a statement, it said.

It said that getting the HTT-40 gives a boost to India’s aerospace and defence industry and helps the country move towards “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India).

This two-seat turbo trainer is fully aerobatic and has modern avionics and air conditioning in the cockpit.

“The plane will help the IAF make up for its lack of basic trainer planes for training new pilots. As part of the deal, simulators and other training tools will be bought “the government said.

“Because it is a homegrown solution, the aircraft can be upgraded to meet the needs of the Indian Armed Forces in the future,” it said.