New Delhi: India on September 3 cleared a multi-billion Dollar deal to acquire British Aerospace 'Hawk' Advance Jet Trainers (AJT) for its Air Force.

This decision was taken in a two-hour long meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) presided by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

"The CCS has cleared purchase of AJTs," Defence Secretary Ajay Prasad said after the meeting.

Informed sources said India would buy two-seater Hawk AJTs, which can be also be used for combat.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) had sought purchase of 66 AJTs for stage-III operational training of pilots and the issue had been hanging fire since 1984.

The sources said the British Aerospace had initially quoted a price of 1.2 billion Pound sterling for the sale of Hawks and it had got stuck as India was seeking price reduction of 10 per cent amounting to nearly Rs 600 crore.

The IAF during negotiations was opting for outright purchase of 24 Hawks and assembling the rest at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore.

Among others who attended the CCS meeting were Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, Defence Minister George Fernandes, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman K C Pant, Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande and the Defence Secretary.

PTI