HAL's Tejas fighter simulator at Aero India 2019

HAL has completed preliminary design and is about to get into actual development of the aircraft 4++ Gen trainer will double up as combat aircraft whenever required 

BANGALORE: The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which was deprived of an opportunity to manufacture Rafale aircraft, is developing a 4++ generation trainer aircraft which can be used for training Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots before they start flying Rafale. 

The PSU has launched the development of the Supersonic Omni Role Trainer Aircraft (SPORT) which it believes can be used for training pilots before their induction into a frontline fighter squadron like Rafale squadron. 

Explaining features of SPORT, HAL’s Deputy Chief Test Pilot (Fixed Wing) Group Captain HV Thakur told Bangalore Mirror that the new aircraft can be used not only as a trainer during peacetime, but also as a combat aircraft during war.

“We are developing a new aircraft based on Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) frame and engine which is called SPORT. This aircraft fills in all the roles, be it training or combat, which are required for new generation fighters. The intent here is to give IAF with a high performance trainer which can train Air Force pilots after advanced jet training.”

In the IAF training module, the first level of training is basic training followed by intermediate and advanced they then go on to fly very high performance aircraft Rafale (which will be inducted into Air Force in September) or the Mirage 2000.

“Fighter pilots in Air Force go through basic training, intermediate training and thereafter advanced jet training. After the advanced jet training, they jump into a very high performance aircraft like Rafale or a Mirage 2000 or MiG-29 the gap between these two is quite a bit especially technologically. During the advanced training period on the Advanced Jet Trainer like the Hawk aircraft they do not have these high performance device like the Helmet Mounted Display (HMD), Laser Designation Pod (LDP) or a laser guided bomb or cruise missile,” Thakur added.

Thakur said that SPORT will carry HMDS, LDP, cruise missiles, laser-guided bombs, anti-shipping missiles, smart weapons and drones. HAL has completed preliminary design and is about to get into actual development of the aircraft.

During the ongoing Aero India, a SPORT simulator was unveiled and pilots who got experience it have given a thumbs-up. “The pilots who have tested the simulator are quite happy with the overall experience and said that they looking forward to the experience,” Thakur said.