HAL HJT-36 Sitara
HJT-36 Sitara | |
---|---|
Role | Trainer |
Manufacturer | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |
First flight | 7 March 2003 |
Introduction | 2008 |
Status | Prototype |
Primary user | Indian Air Force Indian Navy |
Number built | 2 |
The HAL Hindustan Jet Trainer-36 (HJT-36) Sitara (Hindi: सितारा, Sitārā, "star")[1][2] is an Intermediate Jet trainer aircraft (IJT) under development by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) ARDC (Aircraft Research and Design Center) for the Indian Air Force. The HJT-36 will replace the HJT-16 Kiran in its role as a trainer (Stage-2) in the Indian Air Force. It has a conventional jet trainer design, with a low, swept wing, staggered cockpits and small air intakes on either side of its fuselage.
Development
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) started design work on the intermediate jet trainer in 1997. The concept was initially developed as a successor for the Indian Air Force and Navy to the HAL Kiran. HAL was awarded a contract in 1999 by the government of the Republic of India for the completion of development, testing and certification of two prototype IJT aircraft.
The Indian Air Force has placed placed an order for 73 aircraft, of which the first 12 is under production.[3] The order by the Indian Air Force could upto as high as 250 aircraft. Two prototype aircraft have been built. The aircraft has undergone upto 280 test flights. The HJT-36 is scheduled to enter service with the Indian Air Force in June, 2010.
Initial prototypes have flown with the Snecma Larzac engine, while the production models will fly with the more powerful Saturn AL-55I engine with about 16.9 kN of thrust (thrust-to-weight ratio of 5.59). There was delay in the program due to the new air staff requirements opted in 2005 by the Indian Air Force, which stipulated a new and more powerful engine.
The AL-55I engine arrived from Russia on 28 December 2008. First engine was be fitted in PT-1, the one which has not been flown since the accident in Aero India 2007. One ground run has has been undertaken on PT-1 after fitting in PT-1 [4] [5]
The aircraft made its maiden flight with russian AL-55I engine on 9th May 2009.[6]
Design
The aircraft is built from light alloy and composites, using a conventional low wing design with a sweptback wing of 9.8m span and 18° leading edge sweepback. About a quarter of the aircraft's line replaceable units are common with the HAL Tejas trainer aircraft.
The aircraft features a hydraulically retractable tricycle-type landing gear. The single-wheeled main units retract inward and the twin nose wheel unit retracts forward.[7]
Cockpit
The cockpit uses 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 the pilots good, all-round vision. The seats are lightweight zero-zero ejection seats, model K-36LT manufactured by Zvesda. The pilots have both conventional and manual flight controls.
Weapons
The aircraft can also be used in light-attack role. It has five external hardpoints for carrying weapon systems. There is one centre-line hardpoint under the fuselage and two weapon pylons under each wing for carrying rocket and gun pods and bombs. The maximum external payload is 1,000kg.
Engine
The prototype aircraft are powered by a Snecma Larzac 04-H-20 turbofan non-afterburning engine developing 14.12kN. The production models will fly with the more powerful Saturn AL-55I engine with about 16.9 kN of thrust (thrust-to-weight ratio of 5.59) as the new air staff requirements opted in 2005 by the Indian Air Force, stipulated a new and more powerful engine.
The AL-55I engine arrived from Russia on 28 December 2008. The aircraft made its maiden flight with russian AL-55I engine on 9th May 2009.[8]
Incidents
In February 2007, during takeoff from Yelahanka airbase near Bangalore, the first prototype aircraft built by HAL suffered serious damage after its canopy flew open, causing the aircraft to veer to the right, shattering an oleo strut, bursting a tyre, snapping the port wing tip and major damage to the starboard wing. The aircraft finally collapsed in a heap of dust and smoke, but there was no injury to pilot Sqn Ldr Baldev Singh, the aircraft programme's chief test pilot. The aircraft was participating in the Aero India 2007 air show. There were no casualties in the incident. [9]
On February 4th, 2009 PT-2 landed on its belly after a routine aerobatic sortie. The aircraft was piloted by HAL’s Executive Director - Chief Test Pilot (Fixed Wing) Squadron Leader Baldev Singh (retd.) and Wing Commander C. Subramaniam, an Indian Air Force fighter pilot on deputation to HAL. There was structural damage to the undercarriage and belly, the doors and one of the wing tips. [10]
Specifications (HJT-36, prototypes)
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General characteristics
- Crew: two, student and instructor
Performance
- Endurance: 3 hours
- Maximum Dive Speed: 950 km/h
- Maximum Load Factor: +7.0/-2.5 g
Armament
- 5 X hardpoints with up to 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) of a variety of guns, bombs, rockets, and missiles
- 1 × 23 mm cannon (optional)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- ^ Sanskrit, Tamil and Pahlavi Dictionaries
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=jPR2OlbTbdkC&pg=PA275&lpg=PA275&dq=sitara+indo-aryan&source=web&ots=o2bDBqfAS0&sig=6aQASAn3YVQhgUEybLBV9braoio&hl=en
- ^ Vayu aerospace article
- ^ Russian engines coming today for intermediate jet trainer
- ^ http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/2009/02/intermediate-jet-trainer-lands-on-belly.html
- ^ http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/14/stories/2009051454651800.htm
- ^ http://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/hjttrainer/
- ^ http://www.hindu.com/2009/05/14/stories/2009051454651800.htm
- ^ Report in The Hindu
- ^ http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/2009/02/intermediate-jet-trainer-lands-on-belly.html
External links
- HAL Intermediate Jet Trainer HJT-36 by Wg.Cdr Kukke Suresh VrC(Retd.) @ Bharat-rakshak.com
- ACIG Exclusive: 15 Photos of two JJT-39 prototypes and its cockpit
- Bharat-Rakshak Monitor: Sitara - Intermediate Jet Trainer - HJT-36 by H. Niranjan Rao
- HAL: IJT passes hot weather trials in Nagpur, 9 June 2006
- Photos of the two prototypes @ Bharat-rakshak.com
- Photo album: HJT-36 Sitara flying at Aero-India 2007 @ Bharat-rakshak.com
- Photo album: HJT-36 Sitara static display at Aero-India 2007 @ Bharat-rakshak.com
- Photo album: HJT-36 Sitara static display at Aero-India 2007 Pg-2 @ Bharat-rakshak.com
- Photo album: HJT-36 Sitara force landing during takeoff at Aero-India 2007 @ Bharat-rakshak.com
- Photo: HJT-36 taxing back. Aero-India 2007 @ Bharat-rakshak.com