HTT-40 Trainer Aircraft

The HTT-40 is a trainer aircraft currently been designed and developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to replace the HPT-32 Deepak trainer aircraft been used by the Indian Air Force.

What is the HTT-40 aircraft?

• The HTT-40 aircraft is trainer aircraft i.e. it is used to train new pilots for various flight control procedures and to acclimatize them to flying.
• The HTT-40 seat two people (one trainee pilot and one instructor).
• Most of the aircraft apart from its engine is designed and developed in India.
• However, the program was proceeding slowly and the Indian Air Force was forced to order 75 Pilatus PC-7 Mk IIs from the Swiss Aircraft maker Pilatus to fill the role originally envisioned for the HTT-40.
• But HAL has proceeded on track with the aircraft testing and the HTT-40 has outperformed the IAF requirements in spin control and stall requirements and HAL is now pushing the IAF to order its aircraft instead of the foreign sector counterpart.
• IAF was, however, looking to acquire another 38? Pilatus aircraft but HAL believes that its HTT-40 will attain certification in time for the IAF’s requirement.

Why is this in the news?

The fall in the number of aircraft in the IAF’s fleet has worried the Indian Top Brass. All projects are been accelerated to modern and replenish IAF fleet numbers. This also includes the HTT-40 aircraft which will be indigenous and lower foreign content in the IAF fleet.

Other IAF News

HAL has offered to build another 72 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI air superiority fighters for the IAF. This is in addition to the 272 aircraft already planned by the IAF.

While the Sukhoi is a Russian airplane, it is manufactured in India under a comprehensive agreement with Russia.?