Indian Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh disclosed in Rajya Sabha that the delayed Intermediate Jet Trainer HJT-36 Sitar...
Indian Minister of State for Defence Shri Jitendra Singh disclosed in Rajya Sabha that the delayed Intermediate Jet Trainer HJT-36 Sitara aircraft being developed by HALis expected to achieve Final Operation Clearance (FOC) by December 2014. The aircraft missed its Intial Operational Clearance (IOC) in Decemeber 2013. IOC is now expected in the coming months.
IJT has so far completed more than 800 test flights, and has completed sea level trials, night flying trials, high altitude trials as well as weapon and drop tank trials. The capabilities remaining to achieve FOC are the refinement of stall characteristics and spin testing which will be commenced as soon as stall characteristics are refined.
The development began in 1999 and the first and second prototypes flew in March 2003 and in March 2004 respectively. The prototypes were initially powered by the Snecma Larzac engines from france, which were later replaced by the AL-55I jet engine from Russian Saturn for more thrust. The re-engining process delayed the process considerably. Due to developmental issues in Russia, flight-worthy engines were supplied to HAL in January, 2009 against the contractual schedule of January, 2007. Flights with these engines commenced in May, 2009 after resolution of engine-aircraft interface issues with the Russians.
In 2011, one Sitara prototype crashed during a stall testing, fortunately without loss of life, forcing to ground the flight tests, further delaying the project. The crash necessitated major changes like total redesign of flight control system and associated increased number of design iteration for recovery and resolution. The IJT is designed to replace the ageing Kiran MK II trainer aircrafts with Indian Air Force and impart the intermediate stage 2 jet training.
The recently inducted Swiss Pilatus PC-7 Mark II basic trainer imparts the Stage-1 training. The BAE Hawk advanced jet trainer (AJT) inducted in 2008 imparts Stage-3 training, after which pilots fly frontline fighter jets. IAF ordered 73 Sitara trainers in 2010.
