Cabinet Committee on Security to consider a major proposal for procurement of trainer aircraft from Switzerland; Indian Naval Academy may throw open its scholastic doors to international trainees ‘friendly foreign countries'
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    • According to reports, India’s Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne has noted that the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is expected to consider a proposal worth over Rs 1,850 crore for procurement of 75 Pilatus trainer aircraft from Switzerland in its meeting scheduled later this week. "I am hopeful, because it is pending for clearance from the CCS. The moment the CCS clears, we should be able to sign the contract," the IAF chief said. Reports noted that the aircrafts are being procured by the Indian Air Force to provide training to its rookie pilots and replace the HPT-32 trainer aircraft which have been grounded for over two years after a fatal accident in 2009. The deal is critical for IAF's training requirements as in the next two years, there will be a shortage of Kiran Mk II trainer aircraft which are being used to impart flying lessons to the new trainee cadets in the flying branch of the IAF. 1

    In another development, according to reports, the Indian Naval Academy (INA) at Ezhimala, about 280 km north of Kochi, may throw open its scholastic doors to international trainees from ‘friendly foreign countries' in the next couple of years. INA Commandant Vice-Admiral Anurag G. Thapliyal stated, “As and when the Navy decides to open the academy to international trainees, we would be undertaking their training also…. But it will take sometime [to materialise] as it is a policy decision to be taken by the Naval Headquarters (NHQ). I guess there are a lot of queries [from friendly countries] about when the INA will allow foreign trainees to train here,”. 2

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