India signs deal with Slovenian firm for 194 micro-light planes

• India signed a contract of Rs 105.5 cr with a Slovenian firm for 194 micro-light aircraft to be used by Indian Air Force, the Navy and the National Cadet Corps (NCC).
• The contract has been signed with Pipistrel for ‘Virus FW80’.
• The Indian version of the aircraft will be known as ‘Garur’.
• The aircraft is a two- seater trainer, capable of take-off and landing on prepared as well as semi-prepared surfaces.
• It is made of advanced carbon fibre material, it is capable of carrying two crew members and their equipment.
• IAF needs these aircraft for carrying out bird reconnaissance of air fields and their arrival is expected to give a big boost to flight safety.
• India had first issued a Request for Proposal (RfP) for the micro-light aircrafts in 2011 and the delivery of aircraft is expected to commence in the next year.

Source: EconomicTimes