It is Marut with an uglier cockpit and beautiful newer set of wings.
HAL Hindustan Lead in Fighter Trainer (HLFT-42) Trainer Aircraft Program
- Thread starter Ankit Kumar
- Start date
Fuselage is elliptical and fat..
Thought range should be even higher..
By hard points , it ll exceed Tejas mk2 and if it's mk1 nose, radar TRM modules should be same as Mk2 or higher.. That explainS IRST .
All the , over designing of Mk1 is optimized, HLFT is a level higher than Mk1 in almost all the specs.
With low set wings, conformal fuel tanks also possible if necessary..
Will be interesting to know about cockpit.. Whether they ll install Mk1 Or Mk2 layout.
Engine GE 414 ?
Cause length also higher than mk2.
@vstol Jockey , @Picdelamirand-oil please give your valuable opinion about this aircraft if possible..
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VayuI am waiting for some kind of poster with some information and some info from HAL on projected timelines.
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I am waiting for some kind of poster with some information and some info from HAL on projected timelines.
A YT defence channel is claiming HAL will have the first prototype ready for flight testing within 3 yrs .
Curiously , indeed very curiously , the same channel in an unrelated report stated Godrej Aerospace partnered with GTRE to develop 8 modules of 6 engines (? Couldn't understand this bit ) derived from Kaveri with a T/L to deliver them within 3 yrs from next yr onwards for AN UNNAMED PROJECT .
The Kaveri Derivative is in works. Check out the Kaveri thread. Last few posts.
As for creating the prototype from HAL, let's see. If HAL is serious about it, I see them taking 2027-28 for 1st flight.
Who's betting that by the time it hits the market it'd be 40 m USD + in the top end configuration ? Frankly I can't tell if HAL is designing a LIFT which can also function as secondary FA or whether it's the other way around ?
Yup . Checked it out . Which is why I was wondering whether they'd be powering this LIFT with the Kaveri derivative . The tech specs of the old Kaveri & the GE-404 aren't too far apart though the former never matched the latter in wet thrust. This derivative could right that part .
Interestingly Godrej Aerospace is delivering an initial lot early next year as per that defense channel though they didn't quantify the numbers. I'd expect a couple at least . Since this entire project is being funded in house they don't need to approach the Cabinet for approval or even need the IAF's sanction.
Could be earlier too . Most of the LRUs are from the Tejas lines . Metal fabrication shouldn't take much time if the dimensions are the same or similar & it's easier than working with carbon composites.
However , the testing could take longer if they go in for a Kaveri derivative power plant . The wise course would be to follow a dual path - have one prototype flying with the Kaveri derivative & another with the GE-404. Give the client a choice . Get IAF to procure a squadron or 2 with Kaveri derivative to rest the doubts other Air Forces may express at a new engine that too of Indian make & to boost export prospects.
Hopefully the production variant of the Kaveri derivative won't be more expensive than the GE-404.
In my opinion, the GE-F404/F-414 shouldn't be used in the case of HLFT-42 'if' the dry Kaveri with a newly designed afterburner(which I think is rumoured for the HLFT-42) is ready by 2028-30. If the GE-F404/F-414 will be used on the grounds for being 'matured', then no way India is going to have an indigenous alternative for an afterburning turbofan (excluding Dry variant bcz of its usage in Ghatak). If required, Dry Kaveri with the new afterburner should be 'forced' to be used in HLFT-42. After all China did the same with their aircrafts, forced underdeveloped engines on the aircraft to know the technical problems, to make it matured and to kill their pilots(pun intended 
). The only difference will be that by that time Dry Kaveri with a new afterburner will be far from underdeveloped and might be a potential contender for more aircrafts of 'phoren' and ours as well.
). The only difference will be that by that time Dry Kaveri with a new afterburner will be far from underdeveloped and might be a potential contender for more aircrafts of 'phoren' and ours as well.