Aero India 2023 witnessed the first arrival of any
fifth generation fighter jet on Indian soil as the Lockheed Martin F-35A
stunned the audience by its jaw dropping maneuvers. If it was the best
highlight of the grandeur, second best position definitely can be claimed by a
newly unveiled single-engine trainer platform. Conceived by the state-owned
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Hindustan Lead in Fighter Trainer-42
(HLFT-42) proved to be a crowd puller at the stall. The scaled model can remind
one of the HF-24 'Marut', the first fighter jet developed in India. Hence many
exclaimed, if ‘Marut’ is reborn!
Claimed to be the next generation supersonic lead-in
fighter trainer will be designed to train pilots for the ever evolving fifth
generation combat environment! According to HAL, it incorporates an
ultra-modern training suite enabling hyperreal combat situations to train
fighter pilots in a perfectly standardised safe and efficient flying
environment. Thus it offers unique operational capabilities to meet unforeseen
future threats. The HLFT-42 is a purely HAL product which is being designed and
developed by their own without prior requirements from the Indian Air Force
(IAF). Once fully developed, will open the doors to multiple opportunities not
just at home but abroad as well.
The physical dimensions are not revealed yet. It will
have an all up weight (AUW) of 16.5T and payload capacity of more than 4.5T!
According to the representative it will be powered by a General Electric F414
engine! One can expect this will be the same F414-GE-INS6 variant which will be
used to power LCA Mk-II, AMCA Mk-I and TEDBF as well. Though, alternatively GE
F404 engine is offered as potential requirement by the customer. The
ultra-modern avionics will incorporate an Active Electronically Scanned Array
(AESA) radar, an Infrared Search and Track (IRST), advanced Electronic Warfare
(EW) suite and will feature Fly by Wire (FBW) control as well. It will carry
ten beyond visual range air-to-air missile (BVRAAM) and two short range one.
Thus for air-to-air operations it will have a solid punch.
One can wonder the necessity of investment by HAL in a
totally new platform when the IAF already has advanced trainers. Infact India
in past some years has successfully developed several new trainer platforms
like HTT-40 turboprop basic trainer and HJT-36 subsonic intermediate jet
trainer. While BAE Hawk 132 works as advanced jet trainer for the pilots, it
can't provide the necessary training to witness combat environment for an
advanced fourth generation fighter jet. This is why afterwards the pilots need
to be trained on the trainer variant of the specific fighter jet. Meanwhile,
HAL brought an internally funded programme 'Hawk-i' to provide an advanced jet
trainer. The Hawk-i is being extensively used for certification of systems and
indigenous weapons. Simultaneously the ongoing LCA SPORT (Supersonic Omni Role
Training Aircraft) programme will be the LCA Mk-I twin seater trainer stripped
of high end sensors and avionics and will be used to train pilots, after AJT
session, before induction to frontline platforms. But none of them can be true
alternative to fighter jets for pilots. The HLFT-42 will address this issue, as
it will simulate training specific environment for any fighter jet one pilot
does need to be trained on. Besides, no other platform will provide the pilots
the opportunity to explore fifth generation environment without being on a
fifth generation fighter jet!
The HLFT-42 in several features will suppress several
training platforms around the world. One can wonder why the platform is to be
powered by such a powerful engine which is generally not necessary for a
'LIFT'. As for an example the Boeing-Saab T-7A Red Hawk, designed to replace
current Northrop T-38 Talon, which will be the new advanced jet trainer of the
United States Air Force (USAF) is powered by much less powerful General
Electric F404-GE-103 engine. But HLFT-42 is being developed to be more than
just a ‘LIFT’, while potentially it can play the role of future light attack platform.
Besides, the superior kinetic performance will enable the pilots to train for a
twin-engine platform. The long endurance will help in training for multiple
combat situations and exercises. Similarly, the AESA radar and other advanced
features will provide superior capability than (most of) the other training
platforms.
But this is still just a concept and will take years
for successful completion of the project. While the unique indigenous product
might draw attention from the IAF in future, the success in the global market
will depend on multiple factors. The potential competitors are also improving
their own products. As for example, both the Korean FA-50 and the American T-7A
are planned to be equipped with AESA! Incorporation of several new features
will narrow the chance of a totally new product in the market. But keeping all
these in mind, no stone will be unturned by HAL. HLFT-42 still will have such
features (like IRST) which no other equivalent can provide! It must not be
forgotten that while most of the other such products are designed to train
pilot for a fourth generation platform, Indian one will provide unique
opportunity to explore the fifth generation world!
The HF-24 'Marut' was a glorious success for India.
But unfortunately, it couldn't be used at its full potential. It could be the
first supersonic fighter for India, but the lack of adequate engine shunned the
capability. Even later, several different projects had been envisioned based on
the HF-24 which could alter Indian aviation history forever, unfortunately none
was continued. The HLFT-42 brings uncanny similarity being the first in house
designed supersonic trainer aircraft for IAF and featuring superior
capabilities than the contemporaries. The HLFT-42 has the potential to be the
origin of future advanced light jet variants. It will be a mistake to ignore an
indigenous platform designed specifically for the fifth generation combat
environment. HAL is highly optimistic of success and we are all waiting eagerly
for the first flight of the 'Marut' of the new era.
Article
and photos: Sankalan Chattopadhyay
(Twitter
@vinoddx9)