India has launched a quest for new advanced jet trainers (AJT) for the Indian Air Force (IAF). The Ministry of Defence issued a request for information (RfI) on 6 August for a new trainer jet platform.
The replacement aircraft will succeed the present fleet of BAE Systems Hawk Mk. 132 AJTs, which are used for Stage III (advanced) training of Indian fighter pilots.
The IAF is seeking delivery of all 150 aircraft within 60 months of contract signature. The RfI indicated that a follow-on request for proposals could be issued by December 2027.
The new trainer will be utilised for both air-to-air and air-to-ground training of Indian fighter pilots.
The IAF has requested an extensive suite of modern training aids for the procurement, with the aircraft to be capable of live, virtual and constructive training. It also wants the supply of networked full-mission simulators.
The aircraft is required to feature fly-by-wire flight controls and a full-authority digital control (FADEC)-equipped engine.
It must also be capable of operating from semi-prepared runways and should be able to start, take-off and land at elevations of 10,000 feet or less with a full load from a standard runway length of 9,000 feet.
The IAF’s requirements also include an internal or podded gun, together with the ability to carry bombs and rockets. The aircraft is required to support rapid turnaround, with hot arming and refuelling to be completed in less than 30 minutes. Furthermore, an engine change is required to take less than 60 minutes.
The Hawk Mk. 132 was inducted into the IAF in 2008 as a fighter trainer that would replace the HAL-built Kiran Mk.II and MiG-21s which were then used for advanced pilot training.
The fleet was acquired in two tranches of 66 (2004) and 57 aircraft (2010). The first tranche included 24 aircraft delivered as fly-aways by BAE Systems, while the remaining 42 were produced under license by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Bangalore.
The remaining 57 aircraft were also produced under license by HAL. An additional 20-aircraft buy never materialised.
In total, the IAF inducted 106 aircraft and the Indian Navy received 17. The type is operated out of Air Force Station Bidar as its home base.
The Hawk Mk. 132 has a listed lifespan of 30 years or 6,000 flight hours.
by Atul Chandra
