Bangalore, Aug 27 (IANS): British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg Wednesday inspected the Hawk advanced jet trainer being manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd for Indian Air Force pilots under licensed production from the British aerospace major BAE Systems plc.

"I am especially interested in the on-going success of the Hawk project and I appreciate the efforts of HAL in partnering with BAE in rolling out the jet trainer," Clegg said during a visit to the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd's (HAL) aircraft division here.

Clegg, who is on a four-day maiden visit to India with a 50-member trade delegation, was in New Delhi Monday and Mumbai Tuesday for official and business meetings.

Absorbing the technology transfer for indigenous production, HAL has delivered 54 jet trainers to IAF and nine to Indian Navy till date.

The license built Hawk simulators for ground-based training of IAF and Indian Navy personnel are nearing completion.

BAE signed a deal with HAL for the licensed production of 57 Hawks for the IAF at a cost of Rs.5,110-crore in the presence of British Premier David Cameron and former prime minister Manmohan Singh in July 2010.

The initial order for 66 supersonic jets, included 24 in fly-away condition from the BAE facility in London at a cost of Rs.8,000 crore over a decade ago.

The IAF has located the Hawk fleet at its Bidar base in northern Karnataka, about 750 km from here, to train its rookie pilots to fly supersonic fighters such as Sukhois, MiGs, Mirages and Jaguars.

The defence acquisition council approved buying the 57 Hawks in 2008, including 40 for the IAF and 17 in naval variant for the navy.