CleanupBot II at 23:57, 13 August 2023

2023-08-13T23:57:43Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
|name = HJT-36 ''Sitara''
|image = File:Hindustan HJT-36 Sitara Krivchikov 2007.jpg
|caption =
}}
{{Infobox aircraft type
|type = Intermediate Trainer
|manufacturer = [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]]
|designer = 
|design group = Aircraft Research and Design Centre
|first flight = 7 March 2003
|introduced = 2023 (Planned)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.inceptivemind.com/hal-hjt-36-sitara-intermediate-jet-trainer-begins-spin-flight-testing/16333/|title = India's HJT-36 Sitara intermediate jet trainer begins spin flight testing|date = 24 November 2022}}</ref>
|retired =
|primary user = [[Indian Air Force]]
|more users= [[Indian Navy]]
|number built = 16<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/spin-test-in-july-may-revive-intermediate-jet-trainer-plan/articleshow/74049942.cms|title=Spin test in July may revive intermediate jet trainer plan|date=9 February 2020|newspaper=Economic Times|last1=Pubby|first1=Manu}}</ref>
|status = Limited series production
|unit cost =
|variants with their own articles =
}}
|}

The '''HAL HJT-36 ''Sitara''''' ([[ISO 15919|Sitārā]]: "''[[star]]''") is a subsonic intermediate jet [[trainer aircraft]] designed and developed by Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC)<ref>{{Cite web|title=With expected 83 Tejas MK1A orders, ARDC shapes India's upgraded fighter|url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/nation/2020/08/05/with-expected-83-tejas-mk1a-orders-ardc-shapes-india-upgraded-fi.html|access-date=2020-08-07|website=OnManorama|language=en}}</ref> 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|HJT-16 ''Kiran'']] as the Stage-2 trainer for the two forces.

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).<ref name="Bedi Jane's">{{cite web|last1=Bedi|first1=Rahul|title=India's HJT-36 Sitara remains 'unfit' for use as intermediate jet trainer|url=http://www.janes.com/article/68386/india-s-hjt-36-sitara-remains-unfit-for-use-as-intermediate-jet-trainer|website=Jane's 360|publisher=IHS|access-date=27 July 2022}}</ref>, an issue which was only solved in tests in January 2022.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Peri |first1=Dinakar |title=Intermediate Jet Trainer has cleared a major milestone, says HAL chief |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hals-intermediate-jet-trainer-has-cleared-a-major-milestone/article38161914.ece |access-date=20 October 2022 |work=The Hindu |date=7 January 2022}}</ref> In April 2019, ''Sitara'' flew for the first time in three years with a modified air frame to correct its spin characteristics.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Waldron |first1=Greg |title=PICTURES: HAL HJT-36 IJT flies after three year hiatus |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/pictures-hal-hjt-36-ijt-flies-after-three-year-hia-457570/ |work=Flightglobal.com |date=18 April 2022}}</ref>

== Design & development ==
[[File:S3466 HAL HJT-36 Sitra (8413512389).jpg|thumb|S3466 HAL HJT-36 Sitara at [[Yelahanka Air Force Station]] ]]

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 [[NPP Zvezda|Zvezda]] K-26LT lightweight [[zero-zero ejection seat]]s. However, these may be replaced with [[Martin-Baker]] Mk.16 IN16S seats, due to a price escalation of the former.<ref name="supplier">{{cite web|url=http://www.airframer.com/aircraft_detail.html?program=641|title=HAL HJT-36 Sitara - program supplier guide|website=www.airframer.com}}</ref> The pilots have both conventional and manual flight controls.<ref name=at-hjt/>

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]].<ref name=supplier/>

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==
[[File:IJT Prototype in hangar.jpg|thumb|Prototype IJT in its hangar at [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]]|alt=|right]]

===2000s===
*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.<ref name="at-hjt">{{Cite web|title=HJT-36 Sitara Intermediate Jet Trainer|url=https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/hjttrainer/|access-date=2022-01-07|website=Airforce Technology|language=en-US}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=June 2022}}
*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.<ref name=hindu-aero2007>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Jet-trainer-overshoots-runway-at-aero-show/article14717982.ece|title=Jet trainer overshoots runway at aero show|newspaper=The Hindu|date=9 February 2007|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref><ref name=ad-hjt>{{cite web|url=https://www.blogger.com/blogin.g?blogspotURL=http%3A%2F%2Ftheasiandefence.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fintermediate-jet-trainer-lands-on-belly.html&bpli=1|title=Login to read|website=www.blogger.com}}{{Dead link|date=March 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
*The first AL-55I engine was received from [[Russia]] on 28 December 2008, 2 years later than committed, and was installed on PT-1.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2008-12-28|title=Russian engines coming today for intermediate jet trainer|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/Russian-engines-coming-today-for-intermediate-jet-trainer/article15369375.ece|access-date=2022-01-07|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Following ground taxiing trials, flight tests with the new engine started on 9 May 2009.<ref name="deagel">{{cite web|title=IJT|url=http://www.deagel.com/Combat-Aircraft/IJT_a000076001.aspx|url-status=live|access-date=7 January 2022|website=Deagel}}</ref><ref name="hindu.com">{{cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/14/stories/2009051454651800.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090516185954/http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/14/stories/2009051454651800.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=16 May 2009 |title=HAL's intermediate jet trainer HJT-36 makes maiden flight with Russian engine |date=14 May 2009 |access-date=12 July 2010 | work=[[The Hindu]] |location=Chennai, India }}</ref>

===2010===
*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,<ref name=aw-20100528>{{cite web|last1=Krishnan|first1=Anantha|title=India Thought Leaders: HAL Chairman Sets Firm Agenda For Aggressive Export Sales|url=http://aviationweek.com/awin/india-thought-leaders-hal-chairman-sets-firm-agenda-aggressive-export-sales|website=aviationweek.com|language=en|date=28 May 2022}}</ref> and [[initial operational capability]] was expected by July 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/indigenous-jet-trainer-to-get-initial-clearance-by-july/articleshow/7468968.cms | work=The Times of India | title=Indigenous jet trainer to get initial clearance by July | date=10 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/1378/hal3.jpg|title=Vayu aerospace article}}</ref> The Air Force order was expected to grow to over 200 aircraft.

===2012===
*On 27 July 2012, first Engine Ground Run was performed on third prototype.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hal-india.com/MSM/VOL-5_MSM-94.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=26 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116061900/http://hal-india.com/MSM/VOL-5_MSM-94.pdf |archive-date=16 January 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref Name="Public Information Bureau, India">{{cite web|url=http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=93617|title=Press Information Bureau|website=pib.nic.in}}</ref>

===2013===
*In December 2013, HAL declared that Sitara was 'weeks' from certification.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/in-tejas-shadow-sitara-trainer-also-poised-to-enter-service-113122000026_1.html|title=In Tejas' shadow, Sitara trainer also poised to enter service|first=Ajai|last=Shukla|newspaper=Business Standard India|date=20 December 2013|via=Business Standard}}</ref>

===2014===
*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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livefistdefence.com/2014/02/hjt-36-target-foc-by-dec-2014-says-mod.html|title=HJT-36 Target FOC By Dec 2014, Says MoD|first=Shiv|last=Aroor|date=19 February 2022}}</ref> However the stall cannot be tested until HAL redesigns the entire aircraft to correct its "inherent asymmetry".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indrus.in/blogs/2014/02/24/flameout_why_the_iaf_wont_accept_hals_jet_trainer_33117.html |title=Flameout: Why the IAF won't accept HAL's jet trainer |last1=Simha |first1=Rakesh Krishnan |date=24 February 2014 |website=indrus.in |publisher=Российская газета |access-date=23 February 2022}}</ref>
*[[BAE Systems]] was consulted on certain design changes, specifically the tail.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/spin-trials-to-revive-intermediate-jet-trainer-programme-soon/articleshow/56209445.cms|title=Spin trials to revive intermediate jet trainer programme soon|first=Manu|last=Pubby|date=14 July 2018|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news|last=D.S|first=Madhumathi|date=2015-09-09|title=IAF's IJT set for spin test|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/iafs-ijt-set-for-spin-test/article7631349.ece|access-date=2022-01-07|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

===2017===
*In March 2017, [[Jane's Information Group|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.<ref name="Bedi Jane's" />

===2019===
*With Birhle as a consultant, the air frame was modified to move the [[Vertical stabilizer|tailfin]] and [[tailplane]] further down which is expected to make spin recovery easier. The modified aircraft flew for the first time in April 2019.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Shukla |first1=Ajai |title=HAL's Intermediate Jet Trainer flies again after extensive re-design |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/hal-s-intermediate-jet-trainer-flies-again-after-extensive-re-design-119041900219_1.html |work=Business Standard |date=19 April 2022}}</ref>

===2022===
*On 6th January, the IJT has successfully demonstrated the capability to carry out six turn spins to both the left and right hand sides.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Peri|first=Dinakar|date=2022-01-07|title=Intermediate Jet Trainer has cleared a major milestone, says HAL chief|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hals-intermediate-jet-trainer-has-cleared-a-major-milestone/article38161914.ece|access-date=2022-01-07|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Specifications (HJT-36, prototypes) ==
[[File:Profil HAL HJT-36.png|right|400px]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Jane's All the World's Aircraft<ref name="jawa-1617">{{cite book|editor1-last=Jackson|editor1-first=Paul|editor2-last=Peacock|editor2-first=Lindsay|editor3-last=Bushell|editor3-first=Susan|editor4-last=Willis|editor4-first=David|editor5-last=Winchester|editor5-first=Jim|title=IHS Jane's All the World's Aircraft: Development & Production|date=2016–2017|location=Couldson|isbn=978-0710631770|page=304|chapter=India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://hal-india.co.in/Product_Details.aspx?Mkey=54&lKey=&CKey=22|title=HAL IJT|publisher=HAL|access-date=2 May 2022}}</ref>
|prime units?=met

|genhide=

|crew=2
|capacity=
|length m=11
|length ft=36
|length in=1
|length note=
|span m=10
|span ft=32
|span in=9.75
|span note=
|upper span m=
|upper span ft=
|upper span in=
|upper span note=
|mid span m=
|mid span ft=
|mid span in=
|mid span note=
|lower span m=
|lower span ft=
|lower span in=
|lower span note=
|swept m=
|swept ft=
|swept in=
|swept note=
|dia m=
|dia ft=
|dia in=
|dia note=
|width m=
|width ft=
|width in=
|width note=
|height m=4.4
|height ft=14
|height in=5.25
|height note=
|wing area sqm=17.5
|wing area sqft=188.4
|wing area note=
|swept area sqm=
|swept area sqft=
|swept area note=
|volume m3=
|volume ft3=
|volume note=
|aspect ratio=5.5
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=4250
|gross weight lb=9370
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=5400
|max takeoff weight lb=11905
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity={{convert|917|kg|lb}}
|lift kg=
|lift lb=
|lift note=
|more general=

|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac|SNECMA Larzac 04-H20]]
|eng1 type=non-afterburning turbofan
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=
|eng1 shp=
|eng1 kn=14.12
|eng1 lbf=3175
|eng1 note=(Prototypes)
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=
|eng1 lbf-ab=

|eng2 number=1
|eng2 name=[[NPO Saturn AL-55|Saturn/UMPO AL-55I]]
|eng2 type=non-afterburning turbofan
|eng2 kw=
|eng2 hp=
|eng2 shp=
|eng2 kn=17
|eng2 lbf=3821
|eng2 note=(Production aircraft)
|eng2 kn-ab=
|eng2 lbf-ab=

|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=750
|max speed mph=466
|max speed kts=405
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=0.75
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=1000
|range miles=621
|range nmi=540
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=9000
|ceiling ft=29520
|ceiling note=
|g limits=+7.0/–2.5
|roll rate=
|glide ratio=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=308.6
|wing loading lb/sqft=63.21
|wing loading note=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=

|guns=
|bombs=
|rockets=
|missiles=
|hardpoints=1 × under-fuselage and 4 × under-wing pylons
|hardpoint capacity={{convert|1000|kg|lb}}
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
}}

==See also==

{{aircontent
|related=
* [[HAL Tejas]]
* [[HAL Kiran|HJT-16]]
* [[HAL HJT 39 / CAT]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[Aermacchi M-345]]
* [[Hongdu JL-8]]
* [[FMA IA-63 Pampa]]
* [[Kawasaki T-4]]
* [[KB SAT SR-10]]
}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070224182652/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Info/Aircraft/IJT-Suresh.html HAL Intermediate Jet Trainer HJT-36 by Wg.Cdr Kukke Suresh VrC(Retd.) @ Bharat-rakshak.com]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050306161733/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/MONITOR/ISSUE5-5/Rao.html Bharat-Rakshak Monitor: Sitara - Intermediate Jet Trainer - HJT-36 by H. Niranjan Rao]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071018112001/http://bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Images/Current/Trainers/HJT36/ Photos of the two prototypes @ Bharat-rakshak.com]
* [http://www.acig.org/exclusives/aero/acig_aero05_hjt36.htm ACIG Exclusive: 15 Photos of two HJT-36 prototypes and its cockpit]

{{HAL aircraft}}

[[Category:HAL aircraft|Sitara]]
[[Category:2000s Indian military trainer aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 2003]]

HAL HJT-36 Sitara - Revision history

CleanupBot II at 23:57, 13 August 2023