The Indian Air Force's long pending requirement of basic trainer aircraft can now be met with the acquisition of 75 Pilatus planes starting later this year. The IAF signed a Rs. 2,800 crore deal with the Swiss company on Thursday.

The aircraft will help the IAF replace its fleet of HPT-32 basic trainer aircraft, which have been grounded for over two years now after a fatal air crash in 2009. "Pilatus Aircraft Ltd is proud to announce that IAF has entered today into a contract in excess of 500 million Swiss Francs to procure a fleet of 75 PC-7 MkII turboprop aircraft," the company said in a release.