Looks like full steam ahead for the IJT and AJT.

Russian company to supply engines for Indian jet trainers
MOSCOW, AUG 15 (PTI)

India and Russia are to clinch a multi-million dollar deal for supply of engines for the Intermediate Jet Trainers developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).

Under the agreement to be inked between Rosoboronexport and HAL at the international aerospace show ‘MAKS -2005’ beginning tomorrow in Zhukovsky near here, India would buy 250 AL-55 engines for IJTs with the option of another one thousand engines to be produced under license in India, sources said.

However, officials on both sides are tight-lipped.

The AL-55 engine is being developed by Ufa-based Russian engine factory, which has been closely linked with NPO Satrun aircraft engine designing bureau.

HAL Chairman Ashok K Baweja arrived here today with a high-level team to participate in the Air-Show.

For the first time HAL will have its own stall in the MAKS and President Vladimir Putin is expected to visit the prestigious show tomoorow.

HAL to design LCH prototype by 2007, gets order for 300 ALHs

Mumbai, Aug. 11 (PTI): State-owned aircraft manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd today said the prototype for the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) will be completed by 2007.

“The research and development process for the LCH design is progressing and the prototype is expected to be ready by 2007,” HAL Chairman Ashok K Baweja, told reporters here today.

Baweja said the company is bidding in several countries including South America and Europe for marketing Advanced Light Helicopters (ALHs) and LCH.

“We have received order for manufacturing 300 ALH aircraft which will be delivered in the next ten years,” he said adding the “Defence sector including the Army, Navy and Air Force are continuing to be major customers of the company.”

Baweja said Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd (ONGC) has placed an order for three Dhruv helicopters in civic role for Rs 111 crores including maintenance and pilot services. HAL today handed over the first Dhruv aircraft to ONGC and would commission the remaining by the end of this fiscal, he said.

He said the company has stepped up the production capacity to 30 aircraft per year against 18 aircraft last year.

The ROV that untangled the minisub is American. The ROV operators are American as well. How do I know? My former boss, who I still see and talk to, worked on the ROV and people he knows were the crew that operated it in this rescue mission.

My earlier question still stands, why is money being invested in TVC engines when it was claimed that FCS tweaks would give the a non TVC aircraft equivalent capabilities as a TVC equipped a/c?

The FLIR/CCD in the nose was a design choice based on the projected FIBUA related ops. A rotor mount FLIR/CCD can’t look down while the nose mounted can. The Army felt it was more important to have the abilit to look down and under.

Also, aren’t scouts single engined anyways? Kiowa, Little Bird, etc?

I think the Nimrod MPA is the most cost effective 🙂

It’s no secret what aircraft the IAF wants.

surely but why he is mentioning the other trainer which hasnt flown yet ? there will be a time lag in that case also.

Because he was specifically asked about China and India and China’s project is farther along than India’s.

Also, consider this; the HJT-39 will most likely use the Saturn’s AL-55 engine. There is no chance that Russia will let India use a Russian engined plane to compete against a Russian plane. Hence, the no rival part. Russia will not allow the HJT-39 to compete against Yak-130 or Mig-AT as long as Russian engines power the HJT-39. 😉