Bangalore, April 22, 2005 (Zee News)

Britain today said the supply of the British Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer, which is equipped with components of Denel, to India will not be affected due to the current controversy involving the South African defence firm over alleged pay-off by it to secure an Indian defence deal.

"No, it won't affect the Hawk programme. The Hawks are being made as we speak," British High Commissioner to India Sir Michael Arthur told reporters here.

He said a similar controversy had erupted three years ago, but was cleared. "You should ask the British aerospace (the makers of Hawk AJT)."

Denel is in the thick of a controversy over reports of alleged pay-offs by the state-owned South African armament company to obtain an Indian rifles and ammo contract.

Arthur said the first 22 Hawk AJT's will be made in Britain, with the remaining 44 aircraft of the 66 AJT's signed in a USD 1.3 billion deal, would be produced in the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) factory in Bangalore.

He said several Indian Air Force pilots were being trained in the AJTs in the United Kingdom.