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 remained "unfit" for service due to technological issues related to spin test (as of March 2017).[5], an issue which was only solved in tests in January 2022.[6]
In April 2019, Sitara flew for the first time in three years with a modified air frame to correct its spin characteristics.[7]
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 the development, testing, and certification of two prototype IJT aircraft. 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 Zvezda K-26LT lightweight zero-zero ejection seats. However, these may be replaced with Martin-Baker Mk.16 IN16S seats, due to a price escalation of the former.[8] The pilots have both conventional and manual flight controls.[9]
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.[8]
The aircraft has five external hardpoints for weapons training. There is one center-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 kg.
The prototype aircraft was initially powered by a SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-H-20 non-afterburning turbofan developing 14.12 kN of thrust. All production models will use the more powerful NPO Saturn AL-55I engine with about 16.9 kN of thrust, as stipulated by the 2005 air staff requirements from the Air Force.
The first and second prototypes of the HJT-36, labeled 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 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 kN of thrust. The deal also provided for license-production of the engine in India by HAL.[9][unreliable source?]
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.[10]
The first AL-55I engine was received from Russia on 28 December 2008, 2 years later than committed, and was installed on PT-1.[11] Following ground taxiing trials, flight tests with the new engine started on 9 May 2009.[12][13]
2010Edit
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,[14] and initial operational capability was expected by July 2011.[15][16] The Air Force order was expected to grow to over 200 aircraft.
2012Edit
On 27 July 2012, first Engine Ground Run was performed on third prototype.[17][18]
2013Edit
In December 2013, HAL declared that Sitara was 'weeks' from certification.[19]
2014Edit
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.[20] However the stall cannot be tested until HAL redesigns the entire aircraft to correct its "inherent asymmetry".[21]
BAE Systems was consulted on certain design changes, specifically the tail.[22] 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.[23]
2017Edit
In March 2017, Jane's reported that due to the HJT-36's "unsolvable" 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.[5]
2019Edit
With Birhle as a consultant, the air frame was modified to move the tailfin and tailplane further down which is expected to make spin recovery easier. The modified aircraft flew for the first time in April 2019.[24]
2022Edit
On 6th January, the IJT has successfully demonstrated the capability to carry out six turn spins to both the left and right hand sides.[25]
^Shukla, Ajai (20 December 2013). "In Tejas' shadow, Sitara trainer also poised to enter service". Business Standard India – via Business Standard.
^Aroor, Shiv (19 February 2014). "HJT-36 Target FOC By Dec 2014, Says MoD".
^Simha, Rakesh Krishnan (24 February 2014). "Flameout: Why the IAF won't accept HAL's jet trainer". indrus.in. Российская газета. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
^Pubby, Manu (14 July 2018). "Spin trials to revive intermediate jet trainer programme soon". The Economic Times.
^D.S, Madhumathi (9 September 2015). "IAF's IJT set for spin test". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
^Shukla, Ajai (19 April 2019). "HAL's Intermediate Jet Trainer flies again after extensive re-design". Business Standard.
^Peri, Dinakar (7 January 2022). "Intermediate Jet Trainer has cleared a major milestone, says HAL chief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
^Jackson, Paul; Peacock, Lindsay; Bushell, Susan; Willis, David; Winchester, Jim, eds. (2016–2017). "India". IHS Jane's All the World's Aircraft: Development & Production. Couldson. p. 304. ISBN978-0710631770.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to HAL HJT-36 Sitara.
ACIG Exclusive: 15 Photos of two HJT-36 prototypes and its cockpit
October 19, 2023
sitara, sitārā, star, subsonic, intermediate, trainer, aircraft, designed, developed, aircraft, research, design, centre, ardc, built, hindustan, aeronautics, limited, indian, force, indian, navy, will, replace, kiran, stage, trainer, forces, sitararole, inter. The HAL HJT 36 Sitara Sitara star is a subsonic intermediate jet trainer aircraft designed and developed by Aircraft Research and Design Centre ARDC 3 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 as the Stage 2 trainer for the two forces 4 HJT 36 SitaraRole Intermediate trainerNational origin IndiaManufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics LimitedDesign group Aircraft Research and Design CentreFirst flight 7 March 2003Introduction 2023 Planned 1 Status Limited series productionPrimary users Indian Air ForceIndian NavyNumber built 16 2 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 remained unfit for service due to technological issues related to spin test as of March 2017 5 an issue which was only solved in tests in January 2022 6 In April 2019 Sitara flew for the first time in three years with a modified air frame to correct its spin characteristics 7 Contents 1 Design amp development 2 Development 2 1 2000s 2 2 2010 2 3 2012 2 4 2013 2 5 2014 2 6 2017 2 7 2019 2 8 2022 3 Specifications HJT 36 prototypes 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign amp development Edit nbsp S3466 HAL HJT 36 Sitara at Yelahanka Air Force StationHAL 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 the development testing and certification of two prototype IJT aircraft 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 Zvezda K 26LT lightweight zero zero ejection seats However these may be replaced with Martin Baker Mk 16 IN16S seats due to a price escalation of the former 8 The pilots have both conventional and manual flight controls 9 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 8 The aircraft has five external hardpoints for weapons training There is one center 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 kg The prototype aircraft was initially powered by a SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04 H 20 non afterburning turbofan developing 14 12 kN of thrust All production models will use the more powerful NPO Saturn AL 55I engine with about 16 9 kN of thrust as stipulated by the 2005 air staff requirements from the Air Force Development Edit nbsp Prototype IJT in its hangar at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited2000s Edit The first and second prototypes of the HJT 36 labeled 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 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 kN of thrust The deal also provided for license production of the engine in India by HAL 9 unreliable source 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 10 The first AL 55I engine was received from Russia on 28 December 2008 2 years later than committed and was installed on PT 1 11 Following ground taxiing trials flight tests with the new engine started on 9 May 2009 12 13 2010 Edit 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 14 and initial operational capability was expected by July 2011 15 16 The Air Force order was expected to grow to over 200 aircraft 2012 Edit On 27 July 2012 first Engine Ground Run was performed on third prototype 17 18 2013 Edit In December 2013 HAL declared that Sitara was weeks from certification 19 2014 Edit 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 20 However the stall cannot be tested until HAL redesigns the entire aircraft to correct its inherent asymmetry 21 BAE Systems was consulted on certain design changes specifically the tail 22 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 23 2017 Edit In March 2017 Jane s reported that due to the HJT 36 s unsolvable 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 5 2019 Edit With Birhle as a consultant the air frame was modified to move the tailfin and tailplane further down which is expected to make spin recovery easier The modified aircraft flew for the first time in April 2019 24 2022 Edit On 6th January the IJT has successfully demonstrated the capability to carry out six turn spins to both the left and right hand sides 25 Specifications HJT 36 prototypes Edit nbsp Data from Jane s All the World s Aircraft 26 27 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 11 m 36 ft 1 in Wingspan 10 m 32 ft 9 75 in Height 4 4 m 14 ft 5 25 in Wing area 17 5 m2 188 4 sq ft Aspect ratio 5 5 Gross weight 4 250 kg 9 370 lb Max takeoff weight 5 400 kg 11 905 lb Fuel capacity 917 kilograms 2 022 lb Powerplant 1 SNECMA Larzac 04 H20 non afterburning turbofan 14 12 kN 3 175 lbf thrust Prototypes Performance Maximum speed 750 km h 466 mph 405 kn Maximum speed Mach 0 75 Range 1 000 km 621 mi 540 nmi Service ceiling 9 000 m 29 520 ft g limits 7 0 2 5 Wing loading 308 6 kg m2 63 21 lb sq ft Armament Hardpoints 1 under fuselage and 4 under wing pylons with a capacity of 1 000 kilograms 2 200 lb See also Edit nbsp India portal nbsp Aviation portalRelated development HAL Tejas HJT 16 HAL HJT 39 CATAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Aermacchi M 345 Hongdu JL 8 FMA IA 63 Pampa Kawasaki T 4 KB SAT SR 10References Edit India s HJT 36 Sitara intermediate jet trainer begins spin flight testing 24 November 2020 Pubby Manu 9 February 2020 Spin test in July may revive intermediate jet trainer plan Economic Times With expected 83 Tejas MK1A orders ARDC shapes India s upgraded fighter OnManorama Retrieved 7 August 2020 https www timesaerospace aero news training why indias new jet trainer is in a spin a b Bedi Rahul India s HJT 36 Sitara remains unfit for use as intermediate jet trainer Jane s 360 IHS Archived from the original on 22 July 2017 Retrieved 27 July 2017 Peri Dinakar 7 January 2022 Intermediate Jet Trainer has cleared a major milestone says HAL chief The Hindu Retrieved 20 October 2022 Waldron Greg 18 April 2019 PICTURES HAL HJT 36 IJT flies after three year hiatus Flightglobal com a b HAL HJT 36 Sitara program supplier guide www airframer com a b HJT 36 Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer Airforce Technology Retrieved 7 January 2022 Jet trainer overshoots runway at aero show The Hindu 9 February 2007 via www thehindu com Russian engines coming today for intermediate jet trainer The Hindu 28 December 2008 ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 7 January 2022 IJT Deagel Retrieved 7 January 2022 HAL s intermediate jet trainer HJT 36 makes maiden flight with Russian engine The Hindu Chennai India 14 May 2009 Archived from the original on 16 May 2009 Retrieved 12 July 2010 Krishnan Anantha 28 May 2010 India Thought Leaders HAL Chairman Sets Firm Agenda For Aggressive Export Sales aviationweek com Indigenous jet trainer to get initial clearance by July The Times of India 10 February 2011 Vayu aerospace article Archived from the original on 26 July 2011 Archived copy PDF Archived from the original PDF on 16 January 2013 Retrieved 26 September 2012 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint archived copy as title link Press Information Bureau pib nic in Shukla Ajai 20 December 2013 In Tejas shadow Sitara trainer also poised to enter service Business Standard India via Business Standard Aroor Shiv 19 February 2014 HJT 36 Target FOC By Dec 2014 Says MoD Simha Rakesh Krishnan 24 February 2014 Flameout Why the IAF won t accept HAL s jet trainer indrus in Rossijskaya gazeta Retrieved 23 February 2014 Pubby Manu 14 July 2018 Spin trials to revive intermediate jet trainer programme soon The Economic Times D S Madhumathi 9 September 2015 IAF s IJT set for spin test The Hindu ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 7 January 2022 Shukla Ajai 19 April 2019 HAL s Intermediate Jet Trainer flies again after extensive re design Business Standard Peri Dinakar 7 January 2022 Intermediate Jet Trainer has cleared a major milestone says HAL chief The Hindu ISSN 0971 751X Retrieved 7 January 2022 Jackson Paul Peacock Lindsay Bushell Susan Willis David Winchester Jim eds 2016 2017 India IHS Jane s All the World s Aircraft Development amp Production Couldson p 304 ISBN 978 0710631770 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link HAL IJT HAL Retrieved 2 May 2020 External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to HAL HJT 36 Sitara HAL Intermediate Jet Trainer HJT 36 by Wg Cdr Kukke Suresh VrC Retd Bharat rakshak com Bharat Rakshak Monitor Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer HJT 36 by H Niranjan Rao Photos of the two prototypes Bharat rakshak com ACIG Exclusive 15 Photos of two HJT 36 prototypes and its cockpit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HAL HJT 36 Sitara amp oldid 1168957986, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
