The training of the first batch of the Indian Air Force pilots on the Hawk jet trainers will commence at the Royal Air Force valley base in North Wales next week.
Six pilots from the Indian Air Force will take part in the training, a spokesperson of the RAF valley said on Thursday.
The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy who is on a week-long visit to London, held discussion in this regard at the RAF Valley yesterday.
"The Indian Air Force is keen for its pilots to begin training at the earliest possible opportunity and the exercises will be conducted as a combination of simulated flying and live flying on the older version of the aircraft," the spokesperson told PTI.
"The RAF Valley is chosen because we deliver the best training in Hawk jet trainers in the world. We hope to train around 25 student pilots per year under the 900 million pounds contract signed between Indian and British arms manufacturer BAe Systems," the spokesperson said.
Under the agreement, India would purchase 66 Hawk Mk 128 and the BAe would train Indian pilots for three and a half years. With four courses per year, RAF Valley would train a total of 75 IAF pilots by the time the first batch of the aircraft is delivered in 2007.
This is the first time such a large contingent of Indian pilots are being trained in the UK and the programme would be coordinated by the RAF Valley station commander, Group Captain Mark Green.
