Indian Air Force to induct home-made Saras aircraft into fleet

• Source: Xinhua
• [08:35 June 15 2009]
• Comments

The Indian Air Force will induct 15 indigenously built light transport aircraft Saras into its fleet soon, a senior Indian Defense Ministry official said Sunday.

 "The Indian Air Force will soon acquire 15 Saras aircraft developed by the state-owned National Aerospace Laboratories in Bangalore in the southern state of Karnataka," the official said, on condition of anonymity.

 The induction of Saras hit a road block when recently a prototype of the aircraft had crashed during a routine sortie.

 "But the new aircraft will have better engines that will bring down its weight by 500 kg," said the official.

 Indian Defense officials have repeatedly called for reducing relying on overseas suppliers in acquiring military aircraft and other equipment.