Shadow Over India's Intermediate Jet Trainer

[arp2041]

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. But with trials still on to prove the platform as a robust training jet (one prototype crashed during spin tests in April last year), it is unlikely that the IJT will be accorded initial operational clearance (IOC) -- its immediate goal -- anytime soon. Optimistically, it could be towards the end of next year, but likely later. The IAF has on order 85 IJTs (12 LSPs and 73 production series aircraft).

Earlier this year, rumours swirled that the programme was on the edge of being scrapped altogether amidst its inability to deliver performance results to the IAF -- rumours that were quickly dispelled, albeit unofficially, by the IAF and HAL. But there are real situations the IAF needs to now plan for, and the IAF chief's interview (linked above) point to these.

Next year, the IAF will have no choice but to begin retiring most of its HAL Kiran Stage-II trainers. But with the IJT nowhere near entering service at that time, the IAF may be faced with a difficult choice -- (a) push its Kirans further, (b) juggle its training syllabus once again to make up for the lack of Stage-II training (like it has now with the absence of basic trainers) or, perhaps the most difficult/undesirable option for it, (c) acquire intermediate trainer jets from abroad. To be sure, this last option hasn't been lost on the global market.

Sources say the US Government has initiated (or plans to initiate) discussions with India over the possibility of a joint development that may have something to do with the now delayed Northrop T-38 Talon replacement programme, the T-X. I also hear Russia's Rosoboronexport is looking to brief the IAF on the Yak-130 jet trainer -- indeed, it has even begun advertising the aircraft in Indian trade journals.

This is not a healthy situation: from 2014, India's training arsenal will almost entirely comprise foreign aircraft -- the Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II for basic propeller training and the BAE Hawk Mk.132 for lead-in advanced jet training. At this point, it remains unclear what Indian pilot cadets will undergo crucial intermediate training on.


Livefist: Shadow Over India's Intermediate Jet Trainer

 

[SamantK]

IAF is lacking big time in the training front, I hope not another foreign order!

 

[arp2041]

IAF is lacking big time in the training front, I hope not another foreign order!

They will left with no other option mate, In another year's time if there is no progress made in IJT, IAF unwillingly have to issue a RFI for an IJT. This is really sad state of affairs, if we are not able to impart world class training to our airmen, than how can we claim to be a world class air force, IAF already had a lot of troubles in the basic training, with no basic trainer availability, but with Pilatus on order, the basic training issue will be tackled in 1 or 2 years time, now i don't think IAF can afford the same with Intermediate training, even if that means going for some no. of foreign IJT's than be it.

 

[SamantK]

They will left with no other option mate, In another year's time if there is no progress made in IJT, IAF unwillingly have to issue a RFI for an IJT. This is really sad state of affairs, if we are not able to impart world class training to our airmen, than how can we claim to be a world class air force, IAF already had a lot of troubles in the basic training, with no basic trainer availability, but with Pilatus on order, the basic training issue will be tackled in 1 or 2 years time, now i don't think IAF can afford the same with Intermediate training, even if that means going for some no. of foreign IJT's than be it.

Sadly, the cycle continues!

 

[veekysingh]

IAF is lacking big time in the training front, I hope not another foreign order!

then what you want? let them do nothing?

 

[SamantK]

then what you want? let them do nothing?

I said I hope.. They have to do it to keep the pilots fit for flying, doing nothin is worse than your understanding of my statement

 

[Kompromat]

IAF was ordering Hawks, does that mean the Sitara will get a kick ?

 

[mfreak]

Same old same old. Bring in private players!!!

These bureaucratic govt organizations and their BS.

 

[KRAIT]

What's with Indian agencies re-inventing the wheel when they can get consultation or cooperation from nations like US and Russia for these programs ?

Why are we so hard bent on indigenous development ? All it creates is widening of gap rather than rducing it and the end user always suffer. Either be good at reverse engineering or get foreign help or cooperatively develop.

We are giving them billions worth orders, we can ask these helps.

 

[mfreak]

What's with Indian agencies re-inventing the wheel when they can get consultation or cooperation from nations like US and Russia for these programs ?

Why are we so hard bent on indigenous development ? All it creates is widening of gap rather than rducing it and the end user always suffer. Either be good at reverse engineering or get foreign help or cooperatively develop.

We are giving them billions worth orders, we can ask these helps.

Mate buying is not the solution. We should try to make it, so they are on the right track. But problem is they dont have skilled workforce. Who will work for HAL? I mean if I had a choice between HAL and Boeing, Id obviously choose Boeing. So these guys should bring in private players. Private players have skilled labor, there is also competition. Maybe like the US, India should engage two private players. And ask them each to develop prototypes from which 1 will be chosen. That will create even more competition.

 

[Sergi]

What's with Indian agencies re-inventing the wheel when they can get consultation or cooperation from nations like US and Russia for these programs ?

Why are we so hard bent on indigenous development ? All it creates is widening of gap rather than rducing it and the end user always suffer. Either be good at reverse engineering or get foreign help or cooperatively develop.

We are giving them billions worth orders, we can ask these helps.

Exactly. Or if HAL don't feel like taking help GOI should encourage private player for such JV.

 

[Abingdonboy]

IAF was ordering Hawks, does that mean the Sitara will get a kick ?

Different training machines. He IAF follows a 4 stage training regime- basic trainer (Pilatus Pc-7MkII), Ijt (HJT-36 Sitara), AJT (Hawk) and operational conversion (training on whatever a/c the pilot will fly) so the Sitara is meant to fill the stage 2 of pilot training and the BAE Hawk for stage 3. It can't be said the two are interchangeable or mutually exclusive.




@ thread with the increase of ever more simulators, refinement of the training syllabus and acquisitions of world class stage 1,3 and 4 machines the impact of an IJT delay is not critical or too bad. Of course the situation is not ideal but finally this section of he IAF is getting on track and real progress is being made. It is what it is.

 

[SamantK]

What's with Indian agencies re-inventing the wheel when they can get consultation or cooperation from nations like US and Russia for these programs ?

Indian defence needs are not small, importing everything is a loss for the country as big as ours and as capable as ours... Only buying makes sense when we are small and the R&D cost far outweighs the cost in gaining the know how, it simply is not economically viable.. For India the case is opposite..

Why are we so hard bent on indigenous development ? All it creates is widening of gap rather than rducing it and the end user always suffer. Either be good at reverse engineering or get foreign help or cooperatively develop.

We are giving them billions worth orders, we can ask these helps.

we are paying when we can do that in a cheaper way in the process specialise our industry..

 

[jha]

best option is to go for JV with US for this... Atleast our boys will have trainers to train in...

This HAL drama will continue for several more years to come...

 

[faithfulguy]

What's with Indian agencies re-inventing the wheel when they can get consultation or cooperation from nations like US and Russia for these programs ?

Why are we so hard bent on indigenous development ? All it creates is widening of gap rather than rducing it and the end user always suffer. Either be good at reverse engineering or get foreign help or cooperatively develop.

We are giving them billions worth orders, we can ask these helps.

It's sad that you have the solution for what India needs. And no Indian thank you. People are just too prideful and want to act like USA in a hurry. Instead, they need to look at the ground reality and do what is sensible for India. Hopefully, you get more thanks than India will be a superpower postings.