View source for HAL HLFT-42

{{Short description|Indian trainer aircraft project}}
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
| name = Hindustan Lead in Fighter Trainer-42
| image = Hindustan Lead in Fighter Trainer-42 topview.jpg
| caption = HLFT-42 scale model displayed at [[Aero India]] (2023)
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
| type = [[ Lead-in fighter training|Lead-in Fighter Trainer]] / [[Light Combat Aircraft]]
| national origin = [[India]]
| design group = Aircraft Research and Design <br>Centre ([[ Hindustan Aeronautics Limited |HAL]])
| status = Under development
| primary user = [[Indian Air Force]] (Intended)
| developed from = [[HAL HJT 39]]
}}
|}
The '''HAL HLFT-42''' ('''Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer – 42''') is a design for an Indian [[Lead-in fighter training|lead-in fighter trainer]] proposed by [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] (HAL). Designed as a next-generation supersonic trainer jet, serving as an advanced trainer for upcoming [[HAL Tejas Mk2]] and [[HAL AMCA]] fighter jets. Notably, the HLFT-42 will also be used as a fully-fledged fighter jet to perform combat missions. [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited|HAL]] unveiled the design of the scale model of the HLFT-42 at the 14th edition of [[Aero India]] (2023), which was held in [[Bangalore]].
The [[Indian Air Force]] has expressed its intent to use the HLFT-42 in the future to replace the existing [[BAE Systems Hawk|BAE Hawk 132]] [[Jet trainer|jet trainers.]]<ref name="ref1">{{cite web |type = media release | date = 10 February 2023 |title=Aero India 2023: HAL to Display Unique Aatmanirbhar Formation, Will Showcase HLFT-42 |url= https://hal-india.co.in/Aero%20India%202023%20HAL%20to%20Display%20Unique%20Aatmanirbhar%20Formation,%20Will%20Showcase%20HLFT-42/ND__407 |agency= [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]]}}</ref><ref name="ref2"></ref><ref name="ref3">{{cite web |last=Lake |first=Jon |date=20 February 2023 |title=Hindustan Aeronautics Unveils Lead-in Fighter Trainer Project |url=https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2023-02-20/hindustan-aeronautics-unveils-lead-fighter-trainer-project |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230220120919/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2023-02-20/hindustan-aeronautics-unveils-lead-fighter-trainer-project |archive-date=20 February 2023 |work=[[Aviation International News]]}}</ref>
== Development ==
The concept for the HLFT-42 was initiated in 2017, and officially unveiled at [[Aero India]] 2023 by [[Hindustan Aeronautics Limited]] (HAL).<ref name="ref2">{{cite web |last=Jha |first=Manish Kumar |date=1 June 2023 |title=HAL to develop a new advanced fighter jet trainer for the IAF |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-hal-to-develop-a-new-advanced-fighter-jet-trainer-for-the-iaf-3110264/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109041407/https://www.financialexpress.com/business/defence-hal-to-develop-a-new-advanced-fighter-jet-trainer-for-the-iaf-3110264/ |archive-date=9 November 2023 |website=The Financial Express}}</ref> As of February 14, 2023, HAL reported that the HLFT-42 development project had reached an advanced stage of development and was expected to progress to the final design stage within the next four to five years.<ref>{{cite news |last=Dighe |first=Sandip |date=15 February 2023 |title=Aero India 2023: 'HAL's fighter trainer jet in advanced analysis stage' |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/aero-india-2023-hals-fighter-trainer-jet-in-advanced-analysis-stage/articleshow/97932794.cms?from=mdr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320111558/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/aero-india-2023-hals-fighter-trainer-jet-in-advanced-analysis-stage/articleshow/97932794.cms?from=mdr |archive-date=20 March 2023}}</ref> Its primary role is to replace the [[Indian Air Force]]'s current [[BAE Systems Hawk|BAE Hawk]] [[Jet trainer|jet trainers]] and serve as the trainer for future fighter jets, including the [[HAL Tejas Mk2]] and [[HAL AMCA]]. Additionally, it will be capable of performing combat missions.<ref name="ref3"></ref>
== Design ==
[[File:Hindustan Lead in Fighter Trainer-42.jpg|thumb|240x240px|Design of Hindustan Lead in Fighter Trainer-42 ]]
HLFT-42 is designed as a single-engine, conventionally [[Swept wing|swept-wing]] aircraft with a [[bubble canopy]]. It is anticipated that maximum take-off weight of HLFT-42 will be around 16,500 kilograms.<ref name="ref2"></ref> This aircraft will feature advance [[ avionics]], including an [[Active electronically scanned array|active electronically scanned array radar]], [[infrared search and track]] [[sensor]] and [[Electromagnetic warfare|electronic warfare (EW)]] suite, all complemented by a [[Fly-by-wire|FBW system]].<ref name="ref1"></ref> The HLFT-42 mock-up displayed at Aero India (2023) showcased three [[Hardpoint|hardpoints]] under each wing, three under the [[fuselage]], and one on each wing tip, totaling 11 hardpoints for integrating weapons. These weapons may include close-combat-missiles (like [[ASRAAM]]) and [[Beyond-visual-range missile|beyond-visual-range missiles]] (such as [[Astra (missile)|Astra]]), which effectively transform the HLFT-42 into a fully-fledged fighter jet.<ref name="ref3"></ref>
==Specifications (Projected)==
{{Aircraft specs|prime units?=kts
<!--
General characteristics -->|crew=2|length m=16|span m=9|height m=4.6|max takeoff weight kg=16500|fuel capacity={{cvt|3500|kg|0}} internal|hardpoints=Total of 11 with 6 underwing 2 wingtip and 3 under fuselage; holding up to 5000 kg (11,023 lb) of payload|hardpoint missiles=<br />
*** [[Air-to-air missile]]s:
****[[Astra (missile)#Development|Astra Mk2]]
****[[Astra (missile)#Development|Astra Mk1]]
****[[Astra (missile)#Development|Astra IR]]
*** [[Air-to-surface missile]]s:
****[[BrahMos#BrahMos-NG|BrahMos NG]]
****[[LRLACM]]
*** [[Anti-ship missile]]s:
****[[NASM-MR]]
***[[Anti-radiation missile]]s:
****[[Rudram (missile)|Rudram-1]]
****[[Rudram (missile)|Rudram-2]]
|hardpoint bombs=<br />
***[[Precision-guided munition|Precision-guided Bomb]]s:
****[[DRDO SAAW]]
****[[DRDO Glide Bombs#Variants|DRDO Gaurav ]]
****[[DRDO Glide Bombs#Variants|DRDO Gautham ]]
****[[High Speed Low Drag Bomb|HSLD-450/500]]
***[[Laser-guided bomb]]s:
****[[Sudarshan laser-guided bomb|DRDO Sudarshan]]
***[[General-purpose bomb]]s:
****[[High Speed Low Drag Bomb|HSLD-100/250/450/500]]
|avionics=
* [[Uttam AESA Radar|LRDE Uttam AESA Radar]]
* [[Combat Aircraft Systems Development & Integration Centre|CASDIC]] [[Radar warning receiver]]
* [[Laser warning receiver]]
** '''Front Section Optronics:'''
* [[Infrared search and track|IRST Sensor]]
* [[Missile approach warning system| Missile Approach Warning Receiver]]
** '''External Pods:'''
* [[Electronic countermeasure| Self-Protection Jamming & Receiver Pods]]
* [[targeting pod| Laser-Targeting pod]]
** '''Countermeasures:'''
* [[Chaff (countermeasure)| Chaffs]]
* [[Flare (countermeasure)| Flares]]
}}
== See also ==
{{Portal|India|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|see also=
|related=
* [[HAL HJT-16 Kiran]]
* [[HAL HJT-36 Sitara]]
* [[HAL HJT 39]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[AIDC T-5 Brave Eagle]]
* [[Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master]]
* [[KAI T-50 Golden Eagle]]
* [[Hongdu JL-10]]
* [[TAI Hürjet]]
|lists=
}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
[https://hal-india.co.in/Aero%20India%202023%20HAL%20to%20Display%20Unique%20Aatmanirbhar%20Formation,%20Will%20Showcase%20HLFT-42/ND__407 HAL Official Website for details of Media Releases about HLFT-42]
[[Category:Indian military aircraft procurement programs]]
[[Category:Proposed military aircraft]]
[[Category:HAL aircraft|HLTF-42]]
[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]