New Delhi – India is considering buying 20 additional Hawk advanced jet trainers (AJTs) from BAE Systems to equip the Indian air force’s aerobatics team. The aircraft, to be built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL) in Bengaluru, are expected to cost more than 20 billion rupees ($340 million). “Upon successful conclusion, this would be [our] third contract for the supply of materials and equipment for the Hawk Mk. 132, building upon previous orders of 66 aircraft in 2004 and a further 57 aircraft in 2010,” says a senior BAE official. .
NEW DELHI — The launch of India’s GSAT-10 communications satellite has been delayed by a week due to a minor error in the European Ariane 5 rocket meant to place it on orbit, the country’s top scientist says. “While reviewing the launch preparation, Arianespace found a hole in one of the hoses connecting the spaceport and launch vehicle. It is suspected one gram of dust particles might have entered the launch vehicle through the small hole,” says K. Radhakrishnan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
