HAL seeks assistance in reducing HJT-36 weight

India has sought foreign technical assistance to help reduce the weight of its military training aircraft being developed by HAL. Development of the HJT-36 Sitara intermediate jet trainer aircraft has struggled with technical issues and three incidents, delaying adoption by the Indian Air Force, its sole customer. Mint has reviewed a global tender floated by HAL seeking technical help to reduce the aircraft’s weight. HAL, it said, was “looking forward for partnership or technical assistance or consultancy from a well experienced airframe design house”. Early availability of the trainer aircraft, where pilots who have completed basic training learn combat flying before moving up to advanced jet trainers, is critical for the IAF, which needs a steady supply of qualified fighter pilots. The HJT-36 is in an advanced stage of development and is expected to enter service within a year. HAL tender said the company has a firm order of 85 aircraft from the defence services. More orders are expected once the aircraft is operationalized. A senior defence consultant, said the intermediate jet trainer was touted as a plane that will help revive homegrown aircraft technology, along with LCA Tejas, a multi-role light fighter being developed by HAL. Former air chief marshal said the HAL tender reflects poorly on the project management side of the trainer aircraft.
livemint

India Looking Abroad For Intermediate Jet Trainers

Saddled with obsolete training aircraft, the Indian air force has decided to snub the long-delayed, indigenous HJT-36 Sitara intermediate jet trainer and purchase new trainers from abroad.
The IAF has issued a request for information for a lightweight, single-engine, twin-seat trainer with a secondary light attack capability.
The RFI comes weeks after Indian Defense Minister said the much-delayed Sitara IJT is likely to be operational this year..
The IAF has been reluctant to exercise the option of buying an IJT since the state-run HAL has been developing a trainer for the force for the last 15 years.
India has been forced to take this decision as deadlines for getting the operational clearance for Sitara have been breached on a number of occasions.
The RFI for new a IJT states that the aircraft should be capable of operating from airfields at least 2000 meters above sea level.
The aircraft should be capable of carrying at least 1000 kg (2,200 lb.) of external load and be equipped with a minimum of five hard points, with each stressed to carry at least 300 kg.
The aircraft should be capable of employing a lightweight gun-pod with adequate ammunition for at least five seconds of firing time and reusable rocket pods, and should] be able to carry at least four 250-kg bombs.
aviationweek

Shadow Over India's Intermediate Jet Trainer

There's trouble in India's indigenous HAL intermediate jet trainer HJT-36 Sitara programme, and it's been brewing for a while now. First, the facts:

In an interview this week to AINOnline, IAF chief Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne is quoted to have said, "We are concerned as we are not seeing significant progress on the IJT. HAL put in a dedicated design team, yet there are no results. This is a training aircraft and we cannot compromise on safety." He also indicates in the interview that issues that continue to dog the IJT programme include "controls, engines and the aircraft’s weight, stall and spin characteristics".

The HJT-36 was to have entered service with the IAF in June this year as a Stage-II trainer, replacing the ageing HAL Kiran Mk.1/2s in service.

livefist