India has given the go-ahead to the Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) HJT-36. The aircraft will replace ageing HJT-16 Kiran basic trainers in service with the Indian air force.
HAL chairman Krishnadas Nair says the company has been given the green light and already received Rs1.8 billion ($42 million) for the production of two prototypes, flight test and certification.
First flight will be by late 2002, with service entry two years later. The Kiran reaches the end of its service career in around 2005. "It will be HAL's fastest development programme," says Nair. A mock-up was displayed at the Aero India 98 show in Bangalore.
More than 200 HJT-36s are required at a fly-away cost of Rs180-190 million per aircraft. Nair says the HJT-36 will be lighter, have fewer components, improved fuel consumption as well as improved reliability and maintainability compared to the Kiran.
HAL has yet to select an engine. The competitors are the 3,970lb-thrust (18kN) Viper 632 and the 4,360lb-thrust Viper 680 from Rolls-Royce, the 3,170lb-thrust Snecma/Turboméca Larzac 04 and the 3,500lb-thrust AlliedSignal TFE731. Vipers are used on Kirans and the air force has an overhaul site at Kanpur. R-R says that while the Viper is a cheaper engine, its higher fuel consumption counts against it.
Competition for other equipment is fierce, with Marconi Avionics from the UK, Israel's Elop and France Sextant Avionique offering systems.
Emmanuel Menanteau, Sextant Avionique India director, says the company is offering its Topflight avionics system including head-up display, multifunction displays, navigation system and air data computer.
Source: Flight International
