HAL's HJT-36 Sitara Trainer Overcomes Hurdles Following Design Overhaul, Full-Scale Production of 85 Aircraft for IAF Expected by 2028

India's indigenous Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) HJT-36, known as the Sitara, is finally on track to enter full-scale production by 2028, according to a Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) official.

This positive development comes after years of rigorous trials and design modifications aimed at meeting the stringent requirements set by the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The Sitara program faced significant challenges, particularly with the aircraft's spin characteristics. In 2017, IAF officials deemed the aircraft unfit for service due to concerns about its spin recovery capabilities.

However, HAL persevered, undertaking a comprehensive design overhaul in collaboration with UK aerospace giant BAE Systems.

The modifications focused on the aircraft's rear and tail sections to address the spin recovery problems. The revised design underwent extensive mathematical modelling and wind tunnel testing to validate its aerodynamic stability and ensure safe stall and spin recovery.

In addition to the structural changes, HAL upgraded the IJT-36's avionics suite to meet modern standards for pilot training.

This upgrade ensures the aircraft can effectively bridge the gap between basic and advanced jet training, preparing pilots for the complexities of modern combat aircraft.

The IAF has a requirement for 85 IJTs to replace its aging fleet of HJT-16 Kiran trainers, which are nearing the end of their service life.

The HJT-36 is designed to provide a more advanced training platform with capabilities that align with contemporary combat aircraft, preparing pilots for the demands of modern aerial warfare.

Currently, the IJT-36 is in limited series production, allowing for further refinement based on operational feedback before full-scale production commences.

This phased approach ensures that the final product meets the IAF's exacting standards and provides a reliable and effective training platform for its future pilots.

The Sitara program's progress is a testament to HAL's commitment to developing indigenous defence technologies and overcoming technical challenges.

The anticipated full-scale production by 2028 will be a significant milestone for India's self-reliance in defence manufacturing and will provide the IAF with a much-needed modern trainer aircraft.

 

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[Anant]

We are still flogging this dead horse of a design? Sheesh. Anyways... The HJT-36 is an excellent example of how not to manage a project.

The entire project was delayed from the start. The first flight happened in 2003 as opposed to the planned 2001, and way back in 2013, HAL claimed they were weeks away from the type's certification. Well, they sure did fool everyone but themselves with that, because it has been more than a damned decade since!

Now, of course, we have even more delays. At the rate this is going, the Sitara will be going into production over a full quarter century after it first flew! That is a record, and even makes the Tejas look better (after all, the Tejas took 14 years from first flight to IOC and 18 years from first flight to FOC).

A big damned failure is all this project has been. Consider this: When first designed and tested, the aircraft was inherently unstable. Who was the bright spark that came up with the idea of designing an aerodynamically unstable intermediate trainer? Mind you, aircraft like the Sitara would practically be the first jet a pilot-in-training flies. And they decided to put in a flying element that takes even masterful fliers a lot of practice to get right.

Who was the idiot who came up with this, why was it not caught in wind tunnel testing and the like, and who approved this?

Honestly, at this point, the best thing to do is to just scrap the program, document in great detail how everything went wrong and why so few things went right, and divert resources and that knowledge to something like the HLFT-42 program. In the meantime, just build a few more Kirans with the Dry Tejas engine or lease / buy a few new or second-hand trainers.

Heck, the Sitara project makes HAL look competent as far as the Tejas is concerned. I have a hypothesis that the Sitara project has been kept alive just as a justification for delays on other projects.

If we can't develop a basic intermediate trainer on time, then we really shouldn't hold out breath on something like a fifth or sixth generation fighter. Let those muppets get this right first.

 

[beencensured]

@Anant
HAL is itself a failure and that is reason for creation of ADA. Swift drone is another successful product of ADA. HAL cannot design a simple trainer shows their incompetence. Hopefully consultation from BAE solved the problems. By the way, lca tejas had no issue during test flights and slow precautious approach was due to mental illness, as far as passing IOC2 in 2013 there was no reason I should not have been inducted in number, and that to passing after foc in 2019. But again due to mental illness of MOD and IAF that refuse to acknowledge it formable capabilities. Otherwise, supply chains could have been establish long ago as of date LCA mk1a has not been certified as HAL has modified the aircraft. It leaves many to wonder.

 

[Superpower Bharat]

Good enough., but one question still remains... Which engine going to be used in production varient..? Will HAL fit HTFE-25 in IJT-36..

 

[Kira]

So they started consultation from BAE back in 2017, but the trainer jet only be ready for production by 2028 😂

 

[P.K Senapati]

Good news that IJT also known as HJT36 is entering production after long delay .
nitially it can be used for training for replacement of Kiran trainer aircraft.
Latter if India or any neighboring country need a light attack version with sensors and weapon systems package can be integrated.
There will be no engine issues.

 

[Mango_Indian]

Give production order to a private entity. Under no circumstances give the production to HAL.

 

[Velayudhan Nair]

Involve Tata or Mahindra in production.

 

[Vijigishu ( विजिग्शु )]

Daily reminder that HAL should be privatised with govt stakes less than 50%.

 

[The_rED_dEVIL]

Give production order to a private entity. Under no circumstances give the production to HAL.

Unfortunately, HAL will create more problems if told to give away their design to anyone else. Moreover, Transfer of Technology will increase caused per unit as well as further delays.

Again, HTT-40 delivery was scheduled from 2025 as per sources cited in Wikipedia. There has been no updates of that. Better is to create the proposed production line in Tamil Nadu and in another state. This way, there will be 4 production lines for fighter jets [2 Bengaluru+Nashik+Tamil Nadu=32-40 ac/yr of diffent jets; TejasMk1A, Mk2, TEDBF, AMCA (rate ahould be achieved by 2030)] and one line for trainers (20/yr).

No jokes anymore we need five production lines with sorted out supply chains. Else, we are done for.