Bangalore: British aerospace engineers and test pilots will put on show their best skills to steal this year's Bangalore International Airshow-2003, starting on 5th February, as their trainer Jet "HAWK" would be closely watched by Indian strategic decision-makers.

As India's "flying coffins" MiG-21 and MiG-27 are claiming the lives of the best of the IAF (Indian Air Force)'s talent pool, India is keen to go for an Advanced Jet Trainer (AJT) as soon as possible.

India is in need of at least 66 Jet trainers, and more than a decade has passed since the initiation of the process to buy trainers.

The HAWK, French-made Alpha Jet, Russian MiG Advanced Trainer aircraft (MiG-AT) and Czech-made trainers (L159B AJT) are in the running to win the Indian contract. Sales of 66 Jet trainers mean not only millions of Dollars, but also generating thousands of jobs in these countries.

The Russian Advanced Jet Trainer was rejected in the first round itself as it was still in prototype stage.

Though Czech Republic is a relatively minor player in aerospace technology, it is pushing hard to sell its Jet trainers, claiming they are the cheapest and best in the class. The Czechs claim the L159B AJT, which is jointly developed by Czech company Aero Vodchody and Boeing of USA, will be available for half the price of the front-runner, the British HAWK.

However, the IAF evaluation teams are said to be more impressed by the technical superiority of the French-made trainers and the HAWKs.

The Dassault-Breguet Alpha Jet, a joint production of France and Germany, is a twin- seat subsonic trainer optimised for ground attack. But the HAWK has an edge over the Alpha Jet in terms of price and other technical features.

HAWK is believed to be superior to the Eurofighter Typhoon, developed jointly by European aerospace companies.

A transonic ground-attack and training aircraft with infra-red and night vision goggles, the HAWK has 24-hour operational capability. With HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick) controls and a head-up display with full navigation, air-to-air and air- to-ground weapons-aiming capabilities, the HAWK is perceived as the best in its class.

Air-to-air refueling capability, internal navigation unit and Global Positioning System (GPS) make the HAWK the most endurable and pilot-friendly aircraft. The combat wing of HAWK can take a maximum payload of 3,000 kg and can carry air-to-air missiles, bombs, and rocket-launchers, apart from remote-controllable gun, external fuel tanks (which can be detached while flying) and reconnaissance camera.

More than 700 HAWKs have been sold to 17 nations worldwide since it entered service with Britain's Royal Air Force. But the Czechs are not taking things lightly and will leave no stone unturned to beat the HAWK and clinch the Indian deal.

It's going to be war over there in the Bangalore skies for the next one week.