Indigenous HTT 40 aircraft big boost to 'Make in India': Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar  said that the indigenously-built basic trainer aircraft built by the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) had the full backing of the Indian Air Force.

Parrikar, who was in Bengaluru on Friday to flag-off an inaugural trial-run of the Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT-40), inspected the basic trainer aircraft. He even got into the cockpit of the trainer, before watching it rise into the cloudy Bengaluru skies.

Addressing a press conference later at the HAL hangar inside the Old Airport, Parrikar said that the Ministry of Defence fully supported the HAL initiative as the country no longer has to import basic trainer aircraft (BTA).

He also emphasised that the HTT 40 was a “big boost to Make In India initiative. “The HTT 40 has a very high indigenous content, almost 80% of the aircraft's parts were built in India by more than 40 Indian MSME vendors.”

Keeping the limelight on the HAL’s HTT 40, he added that the IAF was keen on acquiring more number of BTAs’. Currently, the IAF has given an order of 70 HTT 40’s, Parrikar added that in future the number could very well reach 200.

To a question on why IAF, which had rejected the HTT 40 in 2012, decided to induct it now, he curtly replied, “Let’s not dig into the past.”

The HAL’s HTT 40 project was almost shelved during the UPA government after the Indian Air Force in 2012 said that the cost-per-aircraft was double that of PC-7 Mk II, a proven aircraft already in service worldwide.

The project was later revived under the Modi government and the basic trainer made its first maiden flight on May 31.

Parrikar lauds HAL youngsters

In his address, the defence minister also mentioned that the HAL HTT-40 project could not have been possible without the “commitment and hard work “ of the young team.  He later even took time out for a photo-shoot with the HAL team members.