India donating Kirans to Myanmar

摘要

INDIAN MEDIA reports on December 1 indicate the New Delhi government is to donate six HJT-16 Kiran jet trainers to Myanmar. Officials said the decision is a goodwill gesture to thank Myanmar for its army's assistance in dealing with insurgents deep inside its territory. It is intended to deploy an Indian Air Force team to Myanmar for two years to maintain the aircraft and assist Myanmar Air Force (MAF) pilots in training on the type. However, as the MAF has only recently introduced new Yak-130s for jet training, it is uncertain what use it can make of the elderly Indian aircraft.