Aerospace Diary

IJT Problems Add to Indian Air Force Training Woes AIN DEFENSE PERSPECTIVE  »  OCTOBER 5, 2012 by    NEELAM MATHEWS The first prototype of HAL’s HJT-36 intermediate jet trainer (IJT) crashed on a routine flight, the third loss for the program in four years. (Photo: HAL) October 5, 2012, 11:55 AM The delay in development of India’s intermediate jet trainer ( IJT ) by government-owned defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ) has the Indian Air Force ( IAF ) worried, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal N.A.K.  Browne told  AIN  in an exclusive interview. The  HAL   HJT -36 is intended to replace the aging fleet of Kiran Mk  II  jet trainers in the  IAF  by 2015. S ince the start of design work in 1997, the   IJT   program has suffered three accidents, delaying its initial operational capability ( IOC ). When   HAL   displayed the first two  IJT...

  AIN Defense Perspective  » August 31, 2012 by  Neelam Mathews The Eurocopter AS550C3 Fennec is a contender for the light utility helicopters (Photo: Eurocopter) August 31, 2012, 9:45 AM India may abandon plans to procure 197 light utility helicopter (LUHs) from abroad for the Indian air force (64) and army (133). Such a decision would favor government-owned defense manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics ( HAL ), which is developing its own LUH design based on the Advanced Light Helicopter ( ALH ). The government was already planning to order an additional 187 light utility helicopters to be produced under license by HAL . It is not clear what the time frame for delivery would be, as HAL would need to expand its current production facility, requiring government approval. The request for proposal for the LUHs was first released in 2008, then withdrawn after a protest from Bell H...