New Delhi – The long-awaited induction of the basic trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF) is nearing fruition as the flight trials for the same have been completed. According to sources, the reports of the trials are with the Indian Defence Ministry and they are assessing the flight evaluations made by the IAF which will lead to the negotiation of the contract. The flight trials comprised of observing the details like flight characteristics, handling qualities, fuel consumption, and duration of sorties, ease of handling and operations, and available instrumentation.
The IAF plans to procure 75 basic trainers in a deal close to $1 billion. The Indian Defence Ministry’s initial Request for Proposal in early 2010 sought the purchase of 75 aircraft “off-the-shelf” and another 106 to be built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) under a joint venture arrangement. The current contenders are the Hawker Beechcraft T-6C Texan II, the Grob G-120, the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) KT-1, the Pilatus PC-7 and EADS’ PZL-130 Orlik.
The IAF has been without a basic trainer aircraft since July 2009 when its 125 strong HPT-32 Deepak trainer aircraft were grounded following several crashes and engine failures. HPT-32 Deepak trainers are manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and it was established that the ‘Deepak’ HPT-32 has two major design flaws. When it flies upside-down the flow of fuel gets blocked, shutting the engine and since the Deepak HPT-32 cannot glide without engine power for even a short distance, a serious crash in inevitable. The IAF has been without a basic trainer since the HPT-32 fleet was grounded and trainee pilots are training directly on the Stage-2 advanced jet trainer (AJT) Hawk-132.
According to sources, the final contract is likely to be signed by June this year since the IAF is in urgent need for basic trainer aircraft. Under current plans, the selected manufacturer will be required to deliver an initial batch of 12 aircraft within two years of a contract signature.
Meanwhile, the Indian Defence Ministry is combining the search of the foreign trainer with a co-development of an indigenous trainer which will be the HTT-40 being developed by HAL and it will be a medium to long term solution for the same class. The HTT-40 was recently displayed at the Aero-India 2011 and it will have a maximum speed of 450 kilometres per hour at 19,700 feet altitude. It has a 36 feet wingspan, fuselage length of 11.3 metres and maximum take-off weight of 2,800 kilograms. The purchase and license manufacture of a foreign basic trainer is a stop-gap measure to allow HAL time to develop an indigenous replacement which is the single engine aircraft HTT-40. HAL officials are confident of delivering the HTT-40 trainer and have pointed out the successful development of the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT), which will replace the HJT ‘Kiran’ as a Stage-2 trainer.
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