In order to put the idea of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ into action, the Ministry of Defence has approved proposals worth ₹8,722.38 crore of capital acquisitions of various platforms and equipment required by the Indian Armed Forces, which includes 106 Basic Trainer aircrafts for the Indian Air Force.
HTT40 Basic Trainer Aircraft
With Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) having successfully developed Basic Trainer Aircraft (HTT-40) prototypes and certification process underway, the DAC approved procurement of 106 Basic Trainer Aircraft from HAL to address the basic training requirements of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Post Certification 70 Basic Trainer Aircraft will be initially procured from HAL and balance 36 after operationalisation of HTT-40 fleet in IAF.
The HTT-40 qualifies as “Indian designed, developed and manufactured (IDDM)” equipment, a category introduced in the Defence Procurement Policy 2016. The aircraft, which has been in the works for the last seven years, has cleared all Air Staff Qualitative Requirements (ASQRs). In November last year, Air Chief Marshal Bhadauria had taken a full one-hour sortie in the HTT-40 as a mark of confidence in the aircraft.
This trainer has been designed and developed by HAL and is a basic fixed-wing aircraft.
It is good for the young IAF officers who are going to learn how to fly an aircraft and will be equipped with Honeywell turboprop engine TPE-331-12B.
Trainer, in military aviation, an airplane that is designed and used to train pilots to operate advanced aircraft effectively. The complicated modern military airplane requires a high degree of skill on the part of pilots. Military training programs commonly make use of a single-engine aircraft for primary training phases, with twin-jet trainers for transition stages. Primary training airplanes are generally of simplified construction, with a minimum of complicated equipment.
