Indian Air Force Receives First Batch of Delayed HTT-40 Trainer Aircraft

The Indian Air Force is finally set to receive its first batch of HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft after a long-standing delay due to an engine shortage.

According to reports, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has completed building two aircraft in Bengaluru and one in Nashik, with deliveries expected soon.

The HTT-40 is an indigenous basic trainer aircraft developed by HAL for military pilot training, designed to replace the Swiss-origin Pilatus PC-7 MkII and improve training for newly inducted pilots.

Although the aircraft is indigenously designed and developed, its propulsion system depends on Honeywell's TPE331-12B turboprop engine, which was delayed due to supply-chain bottlenecks.

Honeywell has now started supplying the engines, with three having been delivered so far. HAL aims to produce up to 20 HTT-40 aircraft annually across its production infrastructure.