With India last week approving a $700 million contract with Switzerland's Pilatus to purchase 75 new PC-7 basic propeller trainers, the Indian air force (IAF) may also need to look outside the country for a fleet of intermediate jet trainers. The IAF had hoped deliveries of the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, (HAL)-led indigenous HJT-36 Sitara intermediate trainer would begin by June; but is a long way even from initial operational clearance. From 2006-10, the IAF contracted for 85 HJT-36s-12 limited- series production variants and 73 fully certified aircraft. But after a series of technological hurdles and the crash of a prototype in April 2011, HAL does not expect the aircraft to be declared interim-capable until 2013.
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