Cameron: we can't tolerate Pakistan exporting terror

Pact signed for supply 57 Hawk AJT aircraft to IAF, Navy

July 28, 2010 06:32 pm | Updated November 28, 2021 09:15 pm IST - Bangalore

British Prime Minister David Cameron has said he will discuss with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh the “leakage” of funds provided to Pakistan to terrorists based in that country.

Speaking at his first public event in India, on the Infosys Technologies' campus here on Wednesday, Mr. Cameron said he discussed the matter with U.S. President Barack Obama last week. “Although we are for a stable and democratic Pakistan, we cannot tolerate the idea that Pakistan can look both ways and export terror to India, Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world.”

Later, Mr. Cameron witnessed the signing of an agreement at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd's facility here for the supply 57 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force and the Navy. While the IAF will acquire 40 aircraft, the Navy, for the first time, will obtain 17 Hawk AJT aircraft at a total cost of Rs. 5,100 crore.

The tripartite agreement involving HAL, BAE Systems and Rolls Royce was signed on behalf of HAL by P. Soundara Rajan, Director, Corporate Planning and Marketing; Guy Griffith, Group Managing Director, BAE Systems; and Christopher John Awde, Commercial Director, Rolls Royce.

Under the terms of the contract, BAE systems will supply products and services to enable HAL to build the Hawk under licence from it, for Rs. 3,640 crore. BAE Systems will provide specialist engineering services, raw material and equipment necessary for airframe production and also the support package for the IAF and the Navy.

Commenting on the deal, BAE Systems India Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Gallagher said: “The Hawk AJT fast jet training solution enables an Air Force or Navy to provide front line pilots for even the most modern fighter aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon or Sukhoi SU-30.”

Rolls Royce is to supply 57 Adour engines, which will power the Hawk aircraft. The deal is valued at Rs. 1,460 crore.

The BAE Systems Hawk is to be powered by the Mk871 variant of the Adour, which will be assembled here in partnership with HAL.

In 2004, India signed a deal for the acquisition of 66 Hawks for the IAF.

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