HAL resumes tests of jet trainer

  1. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has carried out a successful flight test of a modified version of the intermediate jet trainer (IJT).It will be the revival of the indigenous aircraft programme abandoned three years ago due to technical problems.
  2. The IJT which is also known as Hindustan Jet Trainer 36(HJT-36) Sitara is a subsonic intermediate jet trainer aircraft developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy.The HJT-36 will replace the HAL HJT-16 Kiran as the Stage-2 trainer for the two forces.
  3. However,the flight testing of the IJT HJT 36,meant to train IAF pilots in the second stage of their training programme,was put on hold after the aircraft encountered problems in spin test flights in the year 2016.
  4. HAL had taken the help of UK based BAE Systems in 2014 for helping in re-designing the aircraft tail which could meet stall specifications of the IAF.
  5. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian state-owned aerospace and defence company headquartered in Bangalore,India.It is governed under the management of the Indian Ministry of Defence.