On March 7th 2003, less than 4 years after development started, India's new Intermediate Jet Trainer, the HJT-36, "Sitara" had a flawless first flight. The rapid development was due to the use of expeience built up with India's LCA program, and the use of Computer Aided Design and 3-D modelling.
The HJT 36 has tandem-seating configuration (as distinct from the side-by-side seating arrangement of the present Kiran). The cockpit offers excelent all round visibility and the aircraft is powered by a Larzac 04-20 engine producing 1440 Kg of thrust, with its cockpit layout incorporating avionics compatible with contemporary combat aircraft. Both pilots are seated onzero-zero K36LT ejection seats, developd for the Su-30. There are totally five hard points to carry a total load of 1000 kg (bombs, rocket pods, gun pods), with drop tanks on the outboard wing hard points and gun pod on the fuselage centerline hard point. The aircraft will be cleared for maneuvers from +7 G to - 2.5 G.
The development of the IJT sets the stage for the indigenous development of an Indian advanced jet trainer.
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