HAL’s HJT-36 Sitara Project Struggling

[arp2041]

lack of news on HJT-36 and its current status , prompted idrw.org to do some digging with its reliable sources to get the current status of the project , in what ever we have put together till now , we can only say Project is struggling with many technical difficulties .

Next year HJT-36 will complete 10 years of it first flight ( 2003 ) but its unlikely that engineers in HAL will plan a big celebration or even if they do they will keep it low key event . speed at which the project was sanctioned and same speed was shown in development of the first PT-1 aircraft in next 18 months of sanction but after that the project has seen downhill in development and testing front .

In 2007 and 2009 both PT-1 and PT-2 suffered minor crashes which lead to serious delays in the program , but change in the engine requirement by Indian air force meant that Program was stalled in flight tests since many of tests had to be re validated with the new engine , First two aircraft were initially powered by a SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-H-20 non-afterburning turbofan developing 14.12 kN of thrust. but change of ASR by IAF in mid 2005 meant a new engine had to be found and selected.

NPO Saturn AL-55I was selected which is a scaled-down version of the AL-31FP engine that flies the Su-30 MKI combat aircraft. but it was a non-existing engine then , and whole development of his engine had to be funded by India and flight worthy certification and manufacturing saw two years of delays before it was integrated with IJT .

Sources informed us that IJT ( S-3466) which had serious crash On 28 April 2011, where both the pilots were able to eject safely but suffered serious spinal injuries and fractures was actually powered by NPO supplied Saturn AL-55I engine and the aircraft was totally destroyed . sources inform us that engine suffered technical problems resulting into crash , even LSP-1/2 IJT which had been integrated with AL-55I engines were grounded , due to which whole program suffered major set back .

​

Above Crashed S-3466 in 2011 and down same S-3466 been integrated with AL-55I engines in 2010​

Another sources have told us that due to engine change wing had to be re-aligned along with some minor changes to the fuselage and aircraft also suffered set backs in flight test since many flight characters had to be re-tested with new engines , the aircraft also suffered in spin tests as per sources .

Another Sources have told idrw.org had IJT-36 will be able to hit Production line only in early 2015 and Indian air force will be forced to use Kiran Mk-II aircraft even further then planned before it was due for retirement . Indian air force has been monitoring its flight tests closely now . But even HAL and IAF doesn’t want to set any time frame before aircraft gets its IOC or FOC .

IAF currently plans to purchase 60 more Bae Ajt Hawks on top of 20 Bae Ajt Hawks for Surya kirans anticipating delays in IJT project .


HAL’s HJT-36 Sitara Project Struggling | idrw.org

 

[veekysingh]

are we really this bad in making jet plane's?

 

[acetophenol]

Baldev singh was reported to be living in great feeling of guilt as it was his error which caused a sittara to crash

 

[IndoUS]

Every time, the delays are due to the freakin engine. We really need some good and dedicated branch to work on engine production/procurement.

 

[peep]

seriously.. what a shame.. !!!

 

[Jon Snow]

This isn't even news anymore.....

 

[datalibdaz]

Its good that India is trying to develop indigenous AC's of there own, but the problem is it is pursuing many developmental projects and that is why failures occur more frequently. I think India should pursue a single project at a time rather than wasting more money on other projects, it should buy technologies from other countrys.It would increase its no.of AC's and money wouldnt go wasted.

 

[Nishan_101]

lack of news on HJT-36 and its current status , prompted idrw.org to do some digging with its reliable sources to get the current status of the project , in what ever we have put together till now , we can only say Project is struggling with many technical difficulties .

Next year HJT-36 will complete 10 years of it first flight ( 2003 ) but its unlikely that engineers in HAL will plan a big celebration or even if they do they will keep it low key event . speed at which the project was sanctioned and same speed was shown in development of the first PT-1 aircraft in next 18 months of sanction but after that the project has seen downhill in development and testing front .

In 2007 and 2009 both PT-1 and PT-2 suffered minor crashes which lead to serious delays in the program , but change in the engine requirement by Indian air force meant that Program was stalled in flight tests since many of tests had to be re validated with the new engine , First two aircraft were initially powered by a SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-H-20 non-afterburning turbofan developing 14.12 kN of thrust. but change of ASR by IAF in mid 2005 meant a new engine had to be found and selected.

NPO Saturn AL-55I was selected which is a scaled-down version of the AL-31FP engine that flies the Su-30 MKI combat aircraft. but it was a non-existing engine then , and whole development of his engine had to be funded by India and flight worthy certification and manufacturing saw two years of delays before it was integrated with IJT .

Sources informed us that IJT ( S-3466) which had serious crash On 28 April 2011, where both the pilots were able to eject safely but suffered serious spinal injuries and fractures was actually powered by NPO supplied Saturn AL-55I engine and the aircraft was totally destroyed . sources inform us that engine suffered technical problems resulting into crash , even LSP-1/2 IJT which had been integrated with AL-55I engines were grounded , due to which whole program suffered major set back .

Above Crashed S-3466 in 2011 and down same S-3466 been integrated with AL-55I engines in 2010​

Another sources have told us that due to engine change wing had to be re-aligned along with some minor changes to the fuselage and aircraft also suffered set backs in flight test since many flight characters had to be re-tested with new engines , the aircraft also suffered in spin tests as per sources .

Another Sources have told idrw.org had IJT-36 will be able to hit Production line only in early 2015 and Indian air force will be forced to use Kiran Mk-II aircraft even further then planned before it was due for retirement . Indian air force has been monitoring its flight tests closely now . But even HAL and IAF doesn’t want to set any time frame before aircraft gets its IOC or FOC .

IAF currently plans to purchase 60 more Bae Ajt Hawks on top of 20 Bae Ajt Hawks for Surya kirans anticipating delays in IJT project .


HAL’s HJT-36 Sitara Project Struggling | idrw.org

Does IAF considering anything from Russian? EU? or US? side???

 

[Tshering22]

The IJT-36 really needs to be materialized now. Why is the work going slow all of a sudden? The Engine is selected, the problem is identified, then why the hell aren't they getting the jet to production?

We really suck at making things fast.

There should be 1 single agency each for helicopters, large jets, fighter jets, trainers and transporters.

Giving everything to single entity creates this mess.

 

[Martian2]

The IJT-36 really needs to be materialized now. Why is the work going slow all of a sudden? The Engine is selected, the problem is identified, then why the hell aren't they getting the jet to production?

We really suck at making things fast.

There should be 1 single agency each for helicopters, large jets, fighter jets, trainers and transporters.

Giving everything to single entity creates this mess.

It's lack of money. The Indian economic crisis has tightened the purse strings.

You have two choices. India can spend its scarce dollars on keeping the electric grid functioning or it can buy more weapons. It can't do both.

 

[ILLUMINATO]

It's lack of money. The Indian economic crisis has tightened the purse strings.

You have two choices. India can spend its scarce dollars on keeping the electric grid functioning or it can buy more weapons. It can't do both.

You don't add any value to thread,is trolling mandatory for you ??Where do hell is it written in article that finance is the problem ??Cooking unsolicited point of views in one's own mind is OK but vomiting that out is considered the work of retard if not backed by reliable facts .

 

[Thorough Pro]

Tell us something new, no point opening threads on hard known facts of failure.

 

[sancho]

It's lack of money. The Indian economic crisis has tightened the purse strings.

You have two choices. India can spend its scarce dollars on keeping the electric grid functioning or it can buy more weapons. It can't do both.

Yeah, that's why we just ordered more Hawk trainers, because we lack the money. Please

 

[Alphacharlie]

It's lack of money. The Indian economic crisis has tightened the purse strings.

You have two choices. India can spend its scarce dollars on keeping the electric grid functioning or it can buy more weapons. It can't do both.

Your Grace inspite of all this we are still growing at 5.7-6% we have ample Dollars to buy from US/Russia all we want ....Thank you for Enlighting us on our present state.

 

[arp2041]

It's lack of money. The Indian economic crisis has tightened the purse strings.

You have two choices. India can spend its scarce dollars on keeping the electric grid functioning or it can buy more weapons. It can't do both.

Yes u r right we have "scarce" dollars, but luckily we have plenty of Euros that's why we selected Rafale