Round 2: IAF to go after HAL over IJT Delays?

[kurup]

After HAL and IAF almost traded blows with each other over IAF’s demand to scrap Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 aircraft project and locally assemble Swiss Pilatus PC-7 BTA, According to sources in IAF close to idrw.org have said that Second round of clashes between two on Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) issues is just around the corner.

HAL’s deadline to get Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for IJT by end of this year is unlikely to happen. IJT has been suffering from issues related to design which is leading to repeated failure of Spin and stall tests, IJT already has suffered two minor crashes and one Major crash leading to loss of Prototype aircraft when aircraft’s New Russian NPO Saturn AL-55I suffered engine failure.

HAL literally has put a Media Gag on its personnel’s directly involved with IJT Project and have reframed them to even speak about current status of the project with other HAL employees too, IAF official who spoke to idrw.org said that IJT is suffering from Design issues and there is concern among IAF officials that Minor Fixes which HAL is coming up to fast track the Project will not help in long term and issues related to aircraft might resurface again which has been happening lately.

Pointing at HAL developed BTA HPT-32 which repeatedly suffered from disturbance in fuel supply leading to many crashes, Issues related to HPT-32 was never fixed by HAL leading to whole fleet been grounded and later Prematurely retired too , IAF doesn’t want to be in same situation 10 years down the line with IJT .

Sensing an business opportunity Russians have been pushing possible sale of combat trainer Yak-130 to India; IAF already operates British made Hawks for training its pilot in stage-III, Arguments put by Russians is that Current trainer fleet (Hawks) are not capable for training pilots for 5th gen fighter aircraft which India and Russia are developing based on Sukhoi’s Pak-Fa. But Defence experts say it is unlikely IAF will go for new trainers any time soon but will wait for IJT to be fixed by HAL in time before current Second Stage –II Kiran trainer aircrafts which has less than 20 % of airframe life left will be retired in next few years .

http://idrw.org/?p=28757