HAL HJT-36 Sitara: Difference between revisions

  |introduced =

  |number built = 16<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/spin-test-in-july-may-revive-intermediate-jet-trainer-plan/articleshow/74049942.cms|title=Spin test in July may revive intermediate jet trainer plan|date=9 February 2020|publisher=Economic Times}}</ref>

The '''HAL HJT-36 ''Sitara''''' ([[ISO_15919|Sitārā]]: "''[[star]]''") is a subsonic intermediate jet [[trainer aircraft]] is design and developed by Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC)<ref>{{Cite web|title=With expected 83 Tejas MK1A orders, ARDC shapes India's upgraded fighter|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/nation/2020/08/05/with-expected-83-tejas-mk1a-orders-ardc-shapes-india-upgraded-fi.html|access-date=2020-08-07|website=OnManorama|language=en}}</ref> and built by [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] (HAL) for the [[Indian Air Force]] and the [[Indian Navy]]. The HJT-36 will replace the HAL [[HJT-16 Kiran|HJT-16 ''Kiran'']] as the Stage-2 trainer for the two forces.

The ''Sitara'' is a conventional jet trainer with low swept wings, tandem cockpit and small air intakes for the engine on either side of its fuselage. It entered limited series production by 2010 but according to the Indian Air Force officials it remains "unfit" for service due to technological issues related to spin test (as of March 2017).<ref name="Bedi Jane's">{{cite web|last1=Bedi|first1=Rahul|title=India's HJT-36 Sitara remains 'unfit' for use as intermediate jet trainer|url=http://www.janes.com/article/68386/india-s-hjt-36-sitara-remains-unfit-for-use-as-intermediate-jet-trainer|website=Jane's 360|publisher=IHS|access-date=27 July 2017}}</ref> In April 2019, ''Sitara'' flew for the first time in three years with a modified air frame to correct its spin characteristics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Waldron |first1=Greg |title=PICTURES: HAL HJT-36 IJT flies after three year hiatus |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-hal-hjt-36-ijt-flies-after-three-year-hia-457570/ |work=Flightglobal.com |date=18 April 2019}}</ref>

==Development==

[[File:IJT Prototype in hangar.jpg|thumb|Prototype IJT in its hangar at [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]]|alt=|left]]

HAL started design work on an intermediate jet trainer in 1997. The concept was developed as a successor to HAL's earlier trainer, the HJT-16 ''Kiran'', introduced in 1968. In 1999, following reviews by the Indian Air Force, the [[Government of India]] awarded HAL a contract for development, testing and certification of two prototype IJT aircraft.

The first and second prototypes of the HJT-36, labelled PT-1 and PT-2, flew on 7 March 2003 and in March 2004, respectively. The program was then delayed with the Air Force assessing the [[SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac]] engine, with 14.1&nbsp;kN of thrust, as under-powered. In response, in August 2005, HAL reached a deal to replace the SNECMA engine with the [[NPO Saturn]] AL-55I with 16.9&nbsp;kN of thrust. The deal also provided for license-production of the engine in India by HAL.<ref name=at-hjt>http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/hjttrainer/{{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=June 2016}}</ref>

Further delays were caused by delays in delivery of the NPO Saturn engine by 2 years, as well as due to two accidents in February 2007 and in February 2009 involving each of the prototypes, which grounded the aircraft for repairs and investigations.<ref name=hindu-aero2007>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Jet-trainer-overshoots-runway-at-aero-show/article14717982.ece|title=Jet trainer overshoots runway at aero show|date=9 February 2007|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref name=ad-hjt>{{cite web|url=https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspotURL=http%3A%2F%2Ftheasiandefence.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fintermediate-jet-trainer-lands-on-belly.html&bpli=1|title=Login to read|website=www.blogger.com}}</ref>

The first AL-55I engine was received from [[Russia]] on 28 December 2008, 2 years later than committed, and was installed on PT-1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Russian-engines-coming-today-for-intermediate-jet-trainer/article15369375.ece|title=Russian engines coming today for intermediate jet trainer|date=28 December 2008|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Following ground taxiing trials, flight tests with the new engine started on 9 May 2009.<ref name=deagel>{{cite web|url=http://www.deagel.com/Combat-Aircraft/IJT_a000076001.aspx|title=IJT|website=www.deagel.com}}</ref><ref name="hindu.com">{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/14/stories/2009051454651800.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516185954/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/14/stories/2009051454651800.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=16 May 2009 |title=HAL’s intermediate jet trainer HJT-36 makes maiden flight with Russian engine  |date=14 May 2009 |access-date=12 July 2010 | work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India }}</ref>

After further development and extensive testing, the [[Indian Air Force]] placed an order for 73 aircraft. After over 280 test flights, the aircraft entered limited series production in 2009 for the first 12 aircraft to be delivered to the Air Force. The first flight test for the limited series aircraft occurred in January 2010,<ref name=aw-20100528>{{cite web|last1=Krishnan|first1=Anantha|title=India Thought Leaders: HAL Chairman Sets Firm Agenda For Aggressive Export Sales|url=http://aviationweek.com/awin/india-thought-leaders-hal-chairman-sets-firm-agenda-aggressive-export-sales|website=aviationweek.com|language=en|date=28 May 2010}}</ref> and [[initial operational capability]] was expected by July 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/indigenous-jet-trainer-to-get-initial-clearance-by-july/articleshow/7468968.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Indigenous jet trainer to get initial clearance by July | date=10 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1378/hal3.jpg|title=Vayu aerospace article}}</ref> The Air Force order was expected to grow to over 200 aircraft. The third Prototype in development phase. On 27 July 2012 it performed first Engine Ground Run.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hal-india.com/MSM/VOL-5_MSM-94.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116061900/http://hal-india.com/MSM/VOL-5_MSM-94.pdf |archive-date=16 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref Name="Public Information Bureau, India">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=93617|title=Press Information Bureau|website=pib.nic.in}}</ref>

In December 2013, HAL declared that Sitara was 'weeks' from certification.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/in-tejas-shadow-sitara-trainer-also-poised-to-enter-service-113122000026_1.html|title=In Tejas' shadow, Sitara trainer also poised to enter service|first=Ajai|last=Shukla|date=20 December 2013|via=Business Standard}}</ref>

On 19 February 2014 the Indian MOD submitted a statement that the development of IJT was in the advanced stages of certification, with more than 800 test flights completed so far. The activities were progressing well with completion of sea level trials, night flying trials, high altitude trials as well as weapon and drop tank trials. The activities left for obtaining Final Operational Clearance (FOC) are the refinement of stall characteristics, and spin testing which will be commenced as soon as stall characteristics were refined. All efforts were being made to achieve FOC by December 2014. Production of aircraft was to commence immediately thereafter.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livefistdefence.com/2014/02/hjt-36-target-foc-by-dec-2014-says-mod.html|title=HJT-36 Target FOC By Dec 2014, Says MoD|first=Shiv|last=Aroor}}</ref> However the stall cannot be tested until HAL redesigns the entire aircraft to correct its "inherent asymmetry".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indrus.in/blogs/2014/02/24/flameout_why_the_iaf_wont_accept_hals_jet_trainer_33117.html |title=Flameout: Why the IAF won't accept HAL’s jet trainer |last1=Simha |first1=Rakesh Krishnan |date=24 February 2014 |website=indrus.in |publisher=Российская газета |access-date=23 February 2014}}</ref> BAE was consulted on certain design changes, specifically the tail.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/spin-trials-to-revive-intermediate-jet-trainer-programme-soon/articleshow/56209445.cms|title=Spin trials to revive intermediate jet trainer programme soon|first=Manu|last=Pubby|date=14 July 2018|via=The Economic Times}}</ref> Afterwards the design was put to mathematical and wind tunnel tests. The modified aircraft was expected to complete the spin tests by September 2015, and the production of 85 aircraft for the Indian Air Force to begin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/iafs-ijt-set-for-spin-test/article7631349.ece|title=IAF’s IJT set for spin test|first=Madhumathi|last=D.s|date=9 September 2015|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref>

In March 2017, [[Jane's Information Group|Jane's]] reported that due to the HJT-36's "unresolvable" issues associated with critical stall and spin characteristics the aircraft is not ready to serve as an intermediate jet trainer for Indian Air Force pilots.<ref name="Bedi Jane's" /> With Birhle as a consultant, the air frame was modified to move the [[Vertical stabilizer|tailfin]] and [[tailplane]] further down which is expected to make spin recovery easier. The modified aircraft flew for the first time in April 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shukla |first1=Ajai |title=HAL's Intermediate Jet Trainer flies again after extensive re-design |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/hal-s-intermediate-jet-trainer-flies-again-after-extensive-re-design-119041900219_1.html |work=Business Standard |date=19 April 2019}}</ref>

== Design ==

[[File:S3466 HAL HJT-36 Sitra (8413512389).jpg|thumb|S3466 HAL HJT-36 Sitra at [[Yelahanka Air Force Station]] ]]

HJT-36 uses light alloys and composites, with a conventional low wing design with 18° leading edge sweepback and a 9.8m wingspan. It features a hydraulically retractable tricycle-type landing gear. The single-wheeled main units retract inward and the twin nose wheel unit retracts forward. About a quarter of the aircraft's line replaceable units are common between it and the [[HAL Tejas]] trainer variant.

In the cockpit, the HJT-36 has a conventional tandem two-seat configuration with the trainee pilot forward and the instructor in the raised seat to the rear. The single-piece canopy gives both pilots good, all-round vision. The prototype aircraft used [[NPP Zvezda|Zvezda]] K-26LT lightweight [[zero-zero ejection seat]]s. However, these may be replaced with [[Martin-Baker]] Mk.16 IN16S seats, due to a price escalation of the former.<ref name="supplier">{{cite web|url=http://www.airframer.com/aircraft_detail.html?program=641|title=HAL HJT-36 Sitara - program supplier guide|website=www.airframer.com}}</ref> The pilots have both conventional and manual flight controls.<ref name=at-hjt/>

The trainer has a full glass cockpit with a layout similar to current generation combat aircraft. It uses an integrated digital avionics system from [[GE Aviation Systems]]. Head-up display and repeater is produced by [[Elbit Systems]].<ref name=supplier/>

The aircraft has five external hardpoints for weapons-training. There is one centre-line hardpoint under the fuselage and two weapon pylons under each wing for carrying rockets, gun pods and bombs. The maximum external payload is 1,000&nbsp;kg.

The prototype aircraft were initially powered by a [[SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-H-20]] non-afterburning [[turbofan]] developing 14.12&nbsp;kN of thrust. All production models will use the more powerful [[NPO Saturn AL-55I]] engine with about 16.9&nbsp;kN of thrust, as stipulated by the 2005 air staff requirements from the Air Force.

[[File:Profil HAL HJT-36.png|right|300px]]