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Bangalore, India: In a major milestone for India’s indigenous defence manufacturing, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) successfully carried out the maiden flight of the first series-production HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft (tail number TH-4001) from its Bengaluru facility on Friday. The aircraft, built under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, marks the transition of the HTT-40 programme from development to full-scale production. According to HAL, the flight lasted approximately 40 minutes and validated the aircraft’s performance parameters, flight controls, and avionics systems. “This achievement reflects our capability to design, develop, test, and now produce a world-class basic trainer entirely within India,” said HAL Chairman and Managing Director C.B. Ananthakrishnan. “The HTT-40 will soon play a key role in shaping the next generation of Indian Air Force pilots.” The HTT-40 (Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40) is a tandem-seat, fully aerobatic turboprop aircraft designed for ab-initio pilot training. The trainer can perform a range of operations including basic flying, aerobatics, instrument training, and night sorties. Unlike earlier prototypes, the newly flown TH-4001 represents a production-standard version that will lead HAL’s delivery commitments to the Indian Air Force (IAF). The aircraft is powered by a Honeywell TPE331-12B turboprop engine and features a modern glass cockpit, zero-zero ejection seats, hot refuelling capability, and advanced avionics such as VOR/ILS, TACAN, and IFF. HAL officials confirmed that the indigenous content of the HTT-40 currently stands at around 56%, with plans to push it beyond 60% as local suppliers scale up production. The Indian Air Force has placed an order for 70 HTT-40 aircraft, valued at approximately ₹6,800 crore. Deliveries were initially targeted for late 2025 but were delayed due to supply chain constraints, particularly the delayed shipment of Honeywell engines. HAL now expects the first batch of production aircraft to be delivered to the IAF by February 2026, after completion of flight certification and quality assurance trials. A second production line at HAL’s Nashik division has also been inaugurated to accelerate output and meet the IAF’s requirements. The HTT-40 will replace the ageing HPT-32 Deepak trainers that were grounded in 2009 following safety issues. With its modern systems and improved safety standards, the aircraft will serve as the backbone of the IAF’s basic flight training programme, bridging a crucial capability gap in pilot induction.

HAL’s HTT-40 Enters Production To Boost Indian Air Force Pilot Training Capability

Aviation Today News Desk / October 25, 2025

Bangalore, India: In a major milestone for India’s indigenous defence manufacturing, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) successfully carried out the maiden […]

Aircraft Crashes, Airplane Crashes, Helicopter Crash, India, Investigation

India Launches First Black Box Lab for Air Crash Investigations; Inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister

Aviation Today News Desk / April 12, 2025

New Delhi, INDIA: On April 10, 2025 Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurated India’s first state-of-the-art Digital Flight Data

A tragic incident unfolded during a night training mission when an Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar fighter jet crashed near Jamnagar, Gujarat, resulting in the death of one pilot while another sustained serious injuries. The aircraft, which took off from Jamnagar Air Force base, encountered a technical malfunction mid-flight, forcing both pilots to eject. While one pilot was safely rescued and is receiving medical treatment, the other succumbed to his injuries. This accident adds to growing concerns over the ageing Jaguar fleet, as it follows a similar crash near Ambala just a day earlier. The IAF has launched an inquiry into the cause of the incident, emphasizing the need for urgent modernization of its aircraft.

Accidents, Airplane Crashes

Indian Air Force Jaguar Crashes in Gujarat, One Pilot Dead, Another Injured

Aviation Today News Desk / April 3, 2025

Gujarat, INDIA: In a tragic accident, an Indian Air Force (IAF) Jaguar two-seater fighter aircraft crashed during a night training

Gujarat: A fiery crash at Porbandar Airport in Gujarat on January 5th, claimed the lives of three Indian Coast Guard personnel when their Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH) Dhruv went down during a training flight | Aviation Today

Helicopter

Two Pilots and Aircrew Diver killed in a Helicopter Crash in Porbandar Airport

Aviation Today News Desk / January 6, 2025

Picture credits; PTI Gujarat: A fiery crash at Porbandar Airport in Gujarat on January 5th, claimed the lives of three

Helicopter

Pawan Hans Lands ₹2,141 Crore Deal to Supply Dhruv NG Helicopters to ONGC

Aviation Today News Desk / December 19, 2024

Image source: Wikipedia New Delhi, December 18, 2024 — Pawan Hans Limited has secured a 10-year contract for ₹2,141 crore

HAL

HAL’s HTT-40 Enters Production To Boost Indian Air Force Pilot Training Capability

India Launches First Black Box Lab for Air Crash Investigations; Inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister

Indian Air Force Jaguar Crashes in Gujarat, One Pilot Dead, Another Injured

Two Pilots and Aircrew Diver killed in a Helicopter Crash in Porbandar Airport

Pawan Hans Lands ₹2,141 Crore Deal to Supply Dhruv NG Helicopters to ONGC

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