HAL Finally Set to Deliver Delayed Trainer Aircraft to Indian Air Force
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is set to deliver its first batch of HTT-40 trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, after a series of delays in the programme caused by engine shortages.
The IAF had ordered 70 HTT-40 aircraft for ₹6,838 crore three years ago to meet its basic pilot training requirements. However, HAL was only able to deliver none during the last fiscal year due to issues with receiving engines from US-based Honeywell.
Under a $100 million contract signed four years ago, Honeywell is supplying and supporting the manufacturing of 88 TPE331-12B turboprop engines and kits. The US company has since overcome supply-chain bottlenecks and delivered the first batch of engines to HAL.
The production lines for the HTT-40 were inaugurated at HAL's Nashik facility by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh last October as part of efforts to expand indigenous aircraft manufacturing capacity. The HTT-40 is intended to provide basic flying training to IAF pilots before they move to more advanced stages of training.