British arms company BAE Systems says South Africa will be a major beneficiary of an Indian decision to buy 66 of its Hawk fighter-trainer aircraft.

The South African Air Force has purchased 24 similar aircraft and local companies will benefit from New Dehli's decision as a result of the offset obligations BAE Systems incurred when selling the aircraft to South Africa in 1999.

Companies expected to benefit include the state-owned Denel Aviation and Midrand-based Aerospace Monitoring and Systems.

"Both are suppliers of key components and systems to the Hawk programme as a direct spin-off of South Africa's strategic defence procurement programme.

The selection of the Hawk by the Indian Airforce - which is the second largest airforce in the world - confirms the aircraft status as the jet trainer of choice internationally," the company said in a statement.

"India joins South Africa, the UK, Australia, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Finland, Switzerland and a number of other countries to have selected the Hawk," the company said.

The first batch of 24 aircraft would be built in the UK and the remaining 42 aircraft manufactured in India through a partnership with India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

South Africa has in recent years also stepped up its defence collaboration with India.

With acknowledgements to INet Bridge and the Business Day.