HAL designs two-in-one plane to train in peace, fight at war

BENGALURU: From cruise missiles to laser-guided bombs like the ones used in the Balakot strike against Pakistan last month and antishipping missiles to smart weapons and modern radars and avionic systems, a new aircraft designed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) promises a lot. The plane, for which design work is complete, doubles as a newgeneration fighter trainer.

The Supersonic Omni Role Trainer Aircraft (SpORT), a lead-in-fightertrainer (LIFT) built on the Light Combat Aircraft Tejas platform, is a fighter trainer which can help pilots of modern aircraft including the Rafale and SU-30 MKi.

The IAF has not made any demand for it. HAL CMD R Madhavan recently said HAL no longer waits for IAF’s requirements. "We're confident of doing R&D and offering a product. We're even looking at markets outside,” he said.

Group Captain HV Thakur, deputy chief test pilot, HAL, who conceived SpORT, says: "Work started last year when we wanted to participate in the US' T-X programme for new-generation trainers. Our platform was a bit expensive as it was built on the Tejas platform and capable of combat. The United States wanted a pure trainer."

A Boeing-Saab partnership bagged the $9-billion T-X contract to make next-generation trainers for the USAF. HAL feels many air forces are keen to possess next generation trainer aircraft.

"There's a quantum jump in training from advanced trainer to fighter jets which impedes the pilots learning pattern, causing an overload on type training aircraft and tends to impinge on safety during fighter training or operations," HAL said in an email.

Many air forces have incorporated LIFT aircraft. Group Captain Subroto Chaki said: "This is where SpORT comes in. For example, Large Force Engagement training happens on actual squadron aircraft like the Su-30 or Mirage. With SpORT, we can simulate all these things. A pilot can fly in a 20-aircraft formation which may include three or four actual SpORTs taking off and the rest simulated."

SpORT can train pilots on many operational capabilities. "All this in just six months, following which they only need to get used to their squadron aircraft," he said.

Thakur said SpORT also trains pilots how to fire laserguided bombs, how to fire cruise missiles, among other things, which they currently only learn after joining their squadron.