India orders the HTT-40 basic training aircraft
On 1 March 2023, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the procurement of 70 Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) HTT-40 basic training aircraft for Bharatiya Vayu Sena's (IAF, Indian Air Force) Training Command.
On 7 March, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed the contract valued at USD 388 million.
The new trainers will complement the existing fleet of 75 Pilatus PC-7 Mk.II, of which the air force operates 60 with the Air Force Academy (AFA) at Dundigal Air Force Station (Telangana) and 15 with the Flying Instructors School (FIS) at Tambaram Air Force Station (Tamil Nadu). Both units will receive the new training aircraft, which will be supplied over a period of six years.
The HTT-40 is a turbo prop aircraft and is designed to have good low speed handling qualities and provide better training effectiveness. This fully aerobatic tandem seat turbo trainer has air-conditioned cockpit, modern avionics, hot re-fueling, running change over and zero-zero ejection seats. The aircraft will meet the shortage of basic trainer aircraft of the IAF for training of newly inducted pilots. The procurement will include associated equipment and training aids including simulators.
Back in August 2020, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of defence equipment for an approximate cost of USD 2 billion, including 106 Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft. The announcement of the basic trainer procurement came a few days after the Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) published its first list of 101 weapon systems and equipment that it will no longer purchase from abroad.
Photo by Stephan de Bruijn (via Airhistory.net)