HAL HJT-36 Sitara
The HAL HJT-36 Sitara (Sitārā: "Star") is a subsonic intermediate jet trainer aircraft designed and developed by Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy. The HJT-36 will replace the HAL HJT-16 Kiran as the Stage-2 trainer for the two forces.
| HJT-36 Sitara | |
|---|---|
| Side shot of the HJT-36 at Yelahanka Air Force Base | |
| Role | Intermediate trainer |
| National origin | India |
| Manufacturer | Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |
| Design group | Aircraft Research and Design Centre |
| First flight | 7 March 2003 |
| Introduction | 2026 (Planned) |
| Status | Limited series production |
| Primary users | Indian Air Force Indian Navy |
| Number built | 16 |
| Developed from | HJT-16 Kiran |
| Developed into | HAL HJT 39 |
The Sitara is a conventional jet trainer with low swept wings, tandem cockpit and small air intakes for the engine on either side of its fuselage. It entered limited series production by 2010 but according to the Indian Air Force officials it remained "unfit" for service due to technological issues related to spin test (as of March 2017)., an issue which was only solved in tests in January 2022.
In April 2019, Sitara flew for the first time in three years with a modified air frame to correct its spin characteristics.