The Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) project
- The state-owned aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), on Wednesday recommenced flight testing of a modified IJT aircraft from its Bengaluru facility.
- The indigenous IJT programme was launched in the early 2000s to replace the ageing Kiran trainer fleet of the Indian Air Force (IAF).
- Designed and developed by HAL, IJT (HJT-36)'s flight testing for the stage-II training of IAF pilots had been put on hold. This was after the aircraft encountered problems in the spin test flights in 2016.
- HAL sees it is as a big push for the IJT project. Subsequent trials are expected to focus more on addressing the design flaws that has delayed the aircraft's induction into the IAF for years.
