The Indian military industry has worked towards breaking free of the reliance on foreign suppliers through indigenous designs – some proving successful, some not. When the time came to upgrade its fleet of intermediate jet trainers – this currently being the HAL Kiran of 1960s vintage – the Indian military establishment looked to HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited) once more and this endeavor has produced the emerging HJT-36 “Sitara”. While still in development as of March 2014, with certification expected sometime in 2014, the Sitara is showcased to become the next intermediate jet trainer for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy. The HJT-36 was originally planned to begin service in 2012.
The HJT-36 holds origins in a 1997 initiative which produced a contract for two prototypes in 1999. A first flight was recorded on March 7th, 2003. Since then, the program has been met with several delays and high profile incidences. The Indian Air Force, however, remained steadfast on the product and eventually requested 73 of the type. Full rate production was itself delayed and final operational clearance is now expected for December of 2014. Quantitative production is set to begin shortly thereafter. Several major revisions have since taken place to iron out deficiencies encountered in the original design.
| Country of origin | India |
| Performance | Installed: 1xNPO Saturn AL-55I non-afterburning turbofan engine developing 4,500lb of thrust. |
| Max Speed: 528 mph (850 kph/459 kts) | |
| Ceiling: 29,528 ft (9,000 mi / 6 mi) | |
| Range: 621 mi (1,000 km/1,852 nm) | |
| Weight | 10,141 lb (4,600 kg) |
| Dimensions | Length: 36.1 ft (11.00 m) |
| Width/Span: 32.8 ft (10.00 m) | |
| Height: 13.5 ft (4.10 m) | |
