HAL HJT-36 is an Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) trainer aircraft

HAL HJT-36 is an Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) (NSI News Source Info) August 25, 2008: The HAL Hindustan Jet Trainer-36 (HJT-36) Sitara is an Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) trainer aircraft under development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) ARDC (Aircraft Research and Design Center) for the Indian Air Force. The HJT-36 will replace the HJT-16 Kiran in its role of as a trainer (Stage-2) in the Indian Air Force. It has a conventional jet trainer design, with a low, swept wing, staggered cockpits and small air intakes on either side of its fuselage. The project began in 1999, with the first prototype flying on 7 March 2003. The Limited Series Production (LSP) order of the Indian Air Force of 12 (Surya Kiran Aerobatics team) aircraft is supposed to be delivered in June 2005. Final production could be 225+ aircraft, serving both the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. Initial prototypes have flown with the Snecma Larzac engine, while the production models will fly with the more powerful Saturn AL-55I engine with about 16.9 kN of thrust (thrust-to-weight ratio of 5.59). There was delay in the program due to the new air staff requirements opted in 2005 by the Indian Air Force, which stipulates a new and more powerful engine. The engines are yet to arrive in India from Russia. The first two Limited Series production aircraft are expected to be handed over to the Indian Air Force by September 2008, the remaining 10 of the ordered 12 by October 2009.