Aero India 2025: HAL enhances HJT-36 in effort to revitalise programme

HAL displayed a model of its upgraded jet trainer aircraft, the HJT-36, at Aero India 2025. (Janes/Akhil Kadidal )

India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has said that it has modified its HJT-36 intermediate trainer to solve the aircraft's departure characteristics and spin resistance “throughout the aircraft envelope”.

Developed as a high-speed basic trainer to replace the Indian Air Force's (IAF's) HJT-16 Kiran second-stage pilot trainer, the HJT-36 was reported to have issues with spin recovery and stability. The airframe has been lengthened to solve its spin problems and departure characteristics, two HAL officials told Janes during Aero India 2025, the biennial defence show being held from 10 to 14 February.

“The length of the fuselage has been increased by 1.5 m while the tail has been moved back by 1.2 m from its original position. In addition, the rudder was expanded to improve lateral stability after a series of studies were conducted,” the HAL officials told Janes .

“The result is that the aircraft is now able to conduct six-turn spins in the left and right directions,” the officials added.

HAL said it also upgraded the aircraft with new glass cockpit and multifunction displays (MFDs) to assist trainee pilots. The HAL officials added that the aircraft also has a voice command system with a basic artificial intelligence (AI) system that can modify core flight functions via oral commands. These include changing waypoints and altering radio frequencies, the officials added.

Voice command system