Aero India 2021: Indian Air Force issues RFP to HAL for 70 basic trainers

The Indian Air Force (IAF) issued a request for proposals (RFP) to state-owned company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the planned acquisition of 70 Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) basic trainer aircraft during the 3–5 February Aero India 2021 defence exhibition in Bangalore.

HAL’s HTT-40 basic turboprop trainer. The IAF issued an RFP on 4 February for the planned acquisition of 70 of these aircraft. (HAL)

HAL said in a 4 February statement that the indigenously developed, dual-seat trainers would be series-built at the company’s facilities in Bangalore and Nashik, but provided no details about costs or the required aircraft delivery timeframe. The RFP also includes a clause suggesting that the service could acquire an additional 38 HTT-40s at a later stage, but the company declined to comment when contacted by Janes.

Developed to replace the HAL-designed HPT-32 Deepak, which was grounded in 2009 following recurring accidents, the HTT-40 is powered by a Honeywell Garett TPE331-12B single-shaft turboprop engine. The first HTT-40 prototype made its maiden test flight in mid-2016.

Once inducted, the HTT-40, development of which was delayed by more than six years, is expected to supplement the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II basic trainers that have been in IAF service since 2013.

HAL officials told Janes that the HTT-40, which includes advanced features such as zero-zero ejection seats and multi-function displays, can be used to provide instrumentation, night-flying, and aerobatics instruction to IAF trainee pilots, among other things.