India has sought foreign technical assistance to help reduce the weight of its military training aircraft being developed by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL). Development of the HJT-36 Sitara intermediate jet trainer aircraft has struggled with technical issues and three incidents, delaying adoption by the Indian Air Force (IAF), its sole customer. Mint has reviewed a global tender floated by HAL seeking technical help to reduce the aircraft’s weight. “HAL is envisaging achieving maximum possible weight reduction or optimisation for the aircraft,” the tender read. HAL, it said, was “looking forward for partnership or technical assistance or consultancy from a well experienced airframe design house”. Early availability of the trainer aircraft, where pilots who have completed basic training learn combat flying before moving up to advanced jet trainers, is critical for the IAF, which needs a steady supply of qualified fighter pilots. Aircraft Research and Design Centre, the research and development unit of HAL, is developing the HJT-36, which weighs around 4,150kg in its normal training configuration, ie, with two pilots and full internal fuel without any external storage. The aircraft, which first flew in 2003, has had three mishaps involving its two prototypes so far. This has delayed its initial operational clearance—mandatory before IAF can start testing the aircraft—by six years. The IAF, which has placed an initial order for eight aircraft, was expected to buy more once it is fully certified. The HJT-36 is in an advanced stage of development and is expected to enter service within a year. HAL tender said the company has a firm order of 85 aircraft from the defence services. More orders are expected once the aircraft is operationalized. A senior defence consultant, who declined to be named, said the intermediate jet trainer was touted as a plane that will help revive homegrown aircraft technology, along with LCA Tejas, a multi-role light fighter being developed by HAL. “Delays, bad project implementation and crashes have not inspired confidence for the plane (Tejas),” the consultant said. Former Air Chief Marshal Mr S. Krishnaswamy said the HAL tender reflects poorly on the project management side of the trainer aircraft. “I am very curious who will sign the contract and how will the company assure on weight reduction. Also, why did the project management team not think about weight reduction possibilities,” Mr Krishnaswamy said. In order to help trainee pilots, the HJT-36 aircraft is provided with good overall visibility, override facilities from the rear cockpit, facility to simulate failures from the rear cockpit and safe ejection seats powered by mini-rockets.
Source: http://www.livemint.com/
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