TSAMTO, July 29. The Indian company HAL has signed a contract worth over $ 100 million. with the American Honeywell for the supply of 88 TPE331-12B engines for HTT-40 basic training vehicle (Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40).
According to Defense News with reference to the press release of the Indian company dated July 27, HAL plans to offer the new HTT-40 at a price of about $ 7 million per unit to the Indian Air Force and foreign customers.
HAL Chairman Ramakrishnan Madhavan said that in October the company expects to conclude a contract with the Indian Air Force worth $ 490 million for the supply of 70 HTT-40 units with an option to supply 36 additional TCB at a later stage. The potential agreement is "at an advanced stage of approval" (approx. TSAMTO: considering the order of 88 TPE331-12B engines, the decision has already been made).
A senior Air Force official, on condition of anonymity, told Defense News that although the HTT-40 training aircraft meets the basic requirements of the Air Force, it is more expensive than the Swiss PC-12 MkII TCB, which were purchased earlier.
For reference: in July 2019, the Government of India blacklisted the Swiss company Pilatus Aircraft Limited due to allegations of bribery of officials when concluding a contract worth $ 390 million for the supply of 75 PC-12 TCB to the Indian Air Force.
According to a senior representative of HAL, the company is exploring the possibilities of exporting HTT-40 to Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates. HAL is currently working closely with Honeywell on potential export deals.
India has spent about $85 million on the development of the aircraft project. At the moment, two prototypes have been assembled, which have made 550 test flights. In case of receiving an order from the Indian Air Force, HAL plans to deploy two HTT-40 production lines in Bangalore and Nasik. Aircraft deliveries can be completed in three years.
Currently, the Air Force operates 260 training aircraft, both basic and advanced flight training (with the need for 388 TCB).
HTT-40 was developed by HAL to replace the HPT-32 Deepak TCB, whose operation was discontinued in 2009 after numerous disasters. The first prototype made its first test flight in mid-2016.
It is expected that after the adoption of the HTT-40, the development of which is more than six years behind schedule, will complement the existing PC-7 Mk TCB.2, delivered since 2013. The HTT-40 TCB can be used to train cadets in instrument flights, night flights and aerobatics. According to HAL, the aircraft can also be adapted for use as a light attack aircraft armed with missiles, 250-pound and 500-pound bombs, a 12.7-mm machine gun.
HTT-40 is a two–seat turboprop TCB with a maximum take-off weight of 2800 kg with tandem crew accommodation. The aircraft is equipped with a Honeywell Garett TPE331-12B turboprop engine. The practical ceiling of HTT-40 is 6000 m, the flight range is 1000 km. The aircraft is equipped with a number of modern systems, including ejection seats that ensure the departure of the aircraft at zero altitude, multifunctional displays.
According to one of the HTT-40 designers, more than 60% of the TCB components (with the exception of the engine and ejection seats) were produced in India.
