Cabinet approves purchase of 70 basic trainer aircraft from HAL for Rs6,828 crore

2 Mar 2023 , 11:30 AM

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) informed that the Union Cabinet has approved the procurement of 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft from for the Indian Air Force at a cost of Rs6,828.36 crore from the company. The company plans to deliver the aircraft over a six-year period.

The HTT-40 is a turboprop aircraft designed for good low-speed handling and increased training effectiveness. The air-conditioned cockpit, modern avionics, hot refuelling, running changeover, and zero-zero ejection seats are all standard features on this fully aerobatic tandem-seat turbo trainer. The aircraft will address the IAF’s shortage of basic trainer aircraft for training newly inducted pilots.

The purchase will include related equipment and training aids such as simulators. Because it is an indigenous solution, the aircraft can be upgraded to meet the Indian Armed Forces’ future requirements.

The HTT-40 contains approximately 56% indigenous content, which will gradually increase to more than 60% through the indigenization of major components and subsystems. HAL intends to involve the Indian private industry, including MSMEs, in its supply chain.

The procurement has the potential to directly employ approximately 1,500 people and indirectly employ up to 3,000 people spread across more than 100 MSMEs.

Procuring the HTT-40 serves as a significant boost to the Indian Aerospace Defence ecosystem, furthering efforts towards achieving ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.

This acquisition has been deemed crucial in promoting indigenous development and production within the country’s defense sector, as per the government’s announcement.

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