IJT-36 Sitara – HAL Is A Bottleneck For Training The Indian Air Force
HAL suffers from severe, systemic issues that continue to ail the organisation and the Indian Air Force. HAL has been working on replacing the intermediate trainer aircraft: the HAL HJT 36 Sitara. The Sitara trainer has been under development since 1997, and has been plagued with technical problems. IAF mandates for all new procurements to include Fixed Base Full Mission Simulators (FBS)
by Girish Linganna
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the premier Indian state aeronautical manufacturer, enjoys much fanfare today, especially for its Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas and export prospects. However, HAL suffers from severe, systemic issues that continue to ail the organisation and the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The IAF Pilot Training Stages
An Indian Air Force fighter pilot must adapt and take rigorous training. Not only must they come to terms with such ungodly forces while flying a combat aircraft, but they must also use a plethora of gadgetry like radars, onboard computers, etc., to save their lives and the nation.
The training for a fighter pilot is structured into three stages. The first stage consists of learning to fly on a trainer aircraft and theoretical instruction of aerial combat principles. Fighter pilots then advance to the second stage, where they advance their academic learning and commence fighter jet flight training. After graduating from Stage II, the fighter pilots are commissioned and undergo Stage III training. Finally, they join their assigned squadrons.
The critical part of the training is the flying hours that a pilot gets during
training. The flying hours are a key to readiness and an overall barometer of
other factors like the pilot and spare parts availability, speed of throughput
at the depot and operational budgets. This boils down to sorties conducted a
week. It takes three sorties a week for a pilot to be able to sustain their
baseline. However, flying four sorties a week significantly improves their
ability. Four sorties a week also compound to nearly 200 hours of flight.
training. The flying hours are a key to readiness and an overall barometer of
other factors like the pilot and spare parts availability, speed of throughput
at the depot and operational budgets. This boils down to sorties conducted a
week. It takes three sorties a week for a pilot to be able to sustain their
baseline. However, flying four sorties a week significantly improves their
ability. Four sorties a week also compound to nearly 200 hours of flight.
The IAF uses HAL’s indigenous HJT-16 Kiran trainer aircraft for training the
pilots in the intermediate stage or Stage II. Kiran was introduced as a
trainer for the IAF in 1968. Even after five decades, HAL has not been able to
replace Kiran.
pilots in the intermediate stage or Stage II. Kiran was introduced as a
trainer for the IAF in 1968. Even after five decades, HAL has not been able to
replace Kiran.
Star Struck Down: HAL HJT-36 Sitara
HAL has been working on replacing the intermediate trainer aircraft: the HAL
HJT-36 Sitara. The Sitara trainer has been under development since 1997, and
the program has been plagued with technical problems, among which most
recently was the issue of carrying out a six-turn spin flight. This problem
took six years to be resolved. This has been a fundamental step towards the
commissioning of the trainer since the training requires the pilots to enter
and recover from stall or spin. Only if Sitara can perform recovery safely and
consistently can it be considered by the IAF.
HJT-36 Sitara. The Sitara trainer has been under development since 1997, and
the program has been plagued with technical problems, among which most
recently was the issue of carrying out a six-turn spin flight. This problem
took six years to be resolved. This has been a fundamental step towards the
commissioning of the trainer since the training requires the pilots to enter
and recover from stall or spin. Only if Sitara can perform recovery safely and
consistently can it be considered by the IAF.
The IAF has naturally evolved its ask in the 25 years of development of the
HJT 36 Sitara. HAL must also offer a complete simulation-based training
solution to match the current infrastructure that the IAF has set up for its
PC 7 and Hawk MK-132 trainers. Also, the IAF mandates for all new procurements
to include Fixed Base Full Mission Simulators (FBS), Cockpit Procedure
Trainers (CPT), Avionics Part Task Trainer (APTT), Flight Training Devices
(FTD) and computer-aided learning systems. This could prove a challenging
endeavour for HAL.
HJT 36 Sitara. HAL must also offer a complete simulation-based training
solution to match the current infrastructure that the IAF has set up for its
PC 7 and Hawk MK-132 trainers. Also, the IAF mandates for all new procurements
to include Fixed Base Full Mission Simulators (FBS), Cockpit Procedure
Trainers (CPT), Avionics Part Task Trainer (APTT), Flight Training Devices
(FTD) and computer-aided learning systems. This could prove a challenging
endeavour for HAL.
Problems have run rampant in the program’s history. Even the engine for the
trainer underwent much change. Initially, it was powered by a French engine.
Later, it was replaced by the Russian AL-55I engine, designed explicitly for
trainer aircraft. The Russians delayed the Al-55I engine.
trainer underwent much change. Initially, it was powered by a French engine.
Later, it was replaced by the Russian AL-55I engine, designed explicitly for
trainer aircraft. The Russians delayed the Al-55I engine.
Both prototypes produced by HAL met an unfortunate fate. PT-1 went off the
runway when its canopy locking system failed. The wings, empennage and the
landing gear bore the brunt of the ensuing damage. PT-2 suffered a landing
gear failure during a practice sortie.
runway when its canopy locking system failed. The wings, empennage and the
landing gear bore the brunt of the ensuing damage. PT-2 suffered a landing
gear failure during a practice sortie.
Gordian Knot
A fundamental issue is waiting to be resolved when crucial projects see no
fruition three decades on. For the HAL, there are various pain points. First
and foremost is the lack of leadership. Currently, HAL is a ship sans a
captain, that is, no full-time Chairman. This has affected the work culture to
an extent.
fruition three decades on. For the HAL, there are various pain points. First
and foremost is the lack of leadership. Currently, HAL is a ship sans a
captain, that is, no full-time Chairman. This has affected the work culture to
an extent.
Further, there has been a glaring financial constraint that still needs to be
resolved. A significant reason behind Sitara’s delay has been the inability of
the politicians to stand behind HAL with words and finance. The Sitara project
has repeatedly been shelved, only revived a few years later. Almost a decade
has been lost in the process.
resolved. A significant reason behind Sitara’s delay has been the inability of
the politicians to stand behind HAL with words and finance. The Sitara project
has repeatedly been shelved, only revived a few years later. Almost a decade
has been lost in the process.
Without a full-time Chairman, organisational irregularities have crept into
the organisation, such as cost overruns that cash-strapped HAL cannot afford
and vendor payout delays because of low cash flow. As the premier aeronautical
manufacturer, especially the one vying for a chunk of the global defence
market, HAL must not continue functioning like this. From the top, there must
be an influx of new vigour into the organisation.
the organisation, such as cost overruns that cash-strapped HAL cannot afford
and vendor payout delays because of low cash flow. As the premier aeronautical
manufacturer, especially the one vying for a chunk of the global defence
market, HAL must not continue functioning like this. From the top, there must
be an influx of new vigour into the organisation.
Girish Linganna is a Defence & Aerospace analyst and is the
Director of ADD Engineering Components (India) Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of
ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany with manufacturing units in Russia. He is
Consulting Editor Industry and Defence at Frontier India
Director of ADD Engineering Components (India) Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of
ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany with manufacturing units in Russia. He is
Consulting Editor Industry and Defence at Frontier India
