HAL Hindustan Lead in Fighter Trainer (HLFT-42) Trainer Aircraft Program

[Ankit Kumar]

What ? The Al-31 has a dry thrust of ~ 75 KN & a wet thrust of ~ 125 KN . That's a medium weight fighter whereas HLFT is a LIFT / Light Fighter. What's he on about ?

Russians on proposed S54/55, basically a single engine Su30MKI to be used as a light combat aircraft in India and a replacement for L39 jet trainer in Russia.

That was sub 10 ton design. HLFT is near 15 tons.

In the current config, you will need 70+kN of thrust.

 

[_Anonymous_]

Russians on proposed S54/55, basically a single engine Su30MKI to be used as a light combat aircraft in India and a replacement for L39 jet trainer in Russia.

That was sub 10 ton design. HLFT is near 15 tons.

Then it's neither a LIFT nor a Light Fighter which was the whole idea behind the project . It's heavier than the LCA . What's the point in developing it then ? How will it compare to similar offerings by RoK & Italy ? Both these countries have notched up good sales not to mention China & Russia which have their own products which are equally competitive even if we ignore the Russians .

In the current config, you will need 70+kN of thrust.

 

[Ankit Kumar]

Then it's neither a LIFT nor a Light Fighter which was the whole idea behind the project . It's heavier than the LCA . What's the point in developing it then ? How will it compare to similar offerings by RoK & Italy ? Both these countries have notched up good sales not to mention China & Russia which have their own products which are equally competitive even if we ignore the Russians .

Personally I am not in favour of this. I would rather want HAL/ADA to focus on a jet trainer which can go supersonic using dry kaveri to replace HAWKs in future.