Slovenian aircraft manufacturer Pipistrel will provide 194 two-seat SW80 Garud trainers to the Indian armed forces, with an option for another 100, in a deal which effectively means half the company’s production capacity is sold out for the next two and a half years.
Pipistrel edged out 10 other competitors to provide the 80 horsepower light sport aircraft, to be used for training Flight Safety and Air Wing cadets of India’s air force, navy and National Cadet Corps. Deliveries to more than 100 locations across India will begin in eight months, with Pipistrel bound to deliver all 194 aircraft within 30 months of the first.
The deal also includes spare engines, ground support equipment and tools, a 10-year product support deal and training for aircrew, instructors and technical staff.
The Garud, a version of Pipistrel’s SW80 Virus aircraft, is named for a bird that appears in Hindu mythology. With the 80hp Rotax 912 engine Pipistrel claims a cruise speed of 133 knots with fuel consumption of less than 13.6 litres per hour. The trainer is designed for operation from semi-prepared surfaces and will include a ballistic parachute rescue system, digital avionics, energy attenuating seats and a Kevlar reinforced cockpit cell.
The bidding process included practical evaluations in India, and a two year contract negotiation.
“This is without a doubt the largest single contract in the entire 26-year history of Pipistrel,” said Pipistrel owner and general manager Ivo Boscarol. “We will produce either six or seven aircraft each month for the Indian Army.”