HAL Kiran

HJT-16 Kiran
Three HAL Kiran Mk II of the Surya Kiran in 2007
Role	Basic Jet Trainer
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics
First flight	1964
Introduction	1968
Status	In Service
Primary users	Indian Air Force Indian Navy
Number built	190

The HAL HJT-16 Kiran (Ray of Light) is an Indian two-seat basic jet trainer built by Hindustan Aeronautics. Used by the Indian Air Force for intermediate training for pilots trained on the HPT-32 Deepak. It is used by the Indian Air Force aerobatic team Surya Kiran and Indian naval aerobatic team Sagar Pawans.

Development

The Kiran was designed to meet an Indian air force requirement for a basic jet trainer. The first aircraft powered by the Rolls Royce Viper Mk 11 was flown for the first time on 4 September 1964. The production aircraft was designated the Kiran I, and first deliveries from a pre-production batch were delivered to the Indian Air Force in March 1968. Later production aircraft were fitted with hardpoints under each wing for weapon training (as the Kiran IA. A total of 190 Mk I and 1A aircraft were built. An improved version powered by a 4,200 lbf (19,000 N) thrust Bristol Siddeley Orpheus engine and improved weapon-carrying capability was designated the Kiran II, first flying on 30 July 1976, and was delivered from 1985, 61 being delivered by the time production ended in 1989. During this period there was a pilot killed during landing - the investigation found that the plane was fitted with 'expired' wheels from Dunlop; the shelf life for them was 20 years, and to no surprise they bursted on landing claiming the life of the test pilot.

Replacement

Kiran will be replaced with the new HAL HJT-36 trainer undergoing flight trials. The Indian Air Force has already placed orders for 12 such aircraft to replace the Kiran jets used by the Surya Kiran team.

Notable accidents

A Kiran Mk II of the Sagar Pawan Aerobatic Team of the Indian Navy crashed at Hyderabad during the Indian Aviation 2010 air show on 3 March 2010, killing both crewmembers.

Variant

Kiran Mk.I

Two-seat basic jet trainer powered by a Rolls-Royce Viper turbo-jet engine. 118 built.

Kiran Mk.IA

Two-seat basic jet trainer with armament capability. Two underwing hardpoints fitted. 72 built.

Kiran Mk.II

Improved version with four hardpoints and integral twin 7.62 mm machine guns in nose and a Rolls-Royce Orpheus engine.

Operators

India

• Indian Air Force
• Indian Navy

Specification (Kiran IA)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 10.60 m (34 ft 9 in)
• Wingspan: 10.70 m (35 ft 1¼ in)
• Height: 3.64 m (11 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 19.00 m² (204.5 ft²)
• Empty weight: 2,560 kg (5,644 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 4,235 kg (9,336 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Viper turbojet, 11.12 kN (2,500 lbf)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 695 km/h (375 knots, 432 mph) at sea level
• Cruise speed: 324 km/h (175 knots, 201 mph)
• Stall speed: 145 km/h (92 knots, 106 mph) flaps and landing gear down
• Endurance: 1 hour 45 min
• Service ceiling: 30,000 ft (9,150 m)

Armament

• two 500lb (227kg) bombs or two SNEB rocket pods containing seven 68 mm rockets or two pods with 7.62 mm machine guns, or two 50-Imp Gal (226 litre) drop tanks

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• BAC Jet Provost
• Cessna T-37
• Canadair CT-114 Tutor
• Saab 105
• Fouga CM.170 Magister
  

References

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
• Donald, David; Jon Lake (1996). Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft (Single volume ed.). London: Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1 874023 95 6. 
• Taylor, John W. R. (1982). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982-83. London: Jane's Yearbooks. ISBN 0 7106-0748-2. 
• Taylor, John W. R. (1988). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1988-89. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Defence Data. ISBN 0 7106-0867-5.