SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) stands at a crossroads of innovation and reflection, leveraging cutting-edge 3D scanning technology to resurrect its vintage HF-24 Marut trainer aircraft as the modern Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer (HLFT-42). This ambitious project not only showcases HAL’s technological evolution but also reflects lessons learned from the troubled development of the HJT-36 Yashas and the successful design inspirations drawn from older trainer aircraft for the HTT-40. By blending legacy with modernity, HAL aims to redefine its approach to trainer aircraft development for the Indian Air Force (IAF).
The HLFT-42 emerged as a conceptual highlight at Aero India 2023, envisioned as a next-generation supersonic Lead-in Fighter Trainer (LIFT). Designed to bridge the gap between basic trainers and advanced combat aircraft, the HLFT-42 aims to prepare IAF pilots for sophisticated fighters like the Tejas Mk2 and the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). HAL’s strategy cleverly integrates the HF-24 Marut’s mid-fuselage and wing design with the Tejas Mk1’s front fuselage, and it also get rid of the air intake was placed in a ring-like shape around the circumference of the rear fuselage, instead it now has Tejas Mk1 a move that promises to streamline development costs and timelines while capitalizing on proven aerodynamic principles.
Unlike its twin-engine predecessor, the HLFT-42 is designed around a single-engine configuration, necessitating significant redesigns, particularly in the rear fuselage. HAL is exploring high-thrust engine options, such as the 95-100kN General Electric F414 (already selected for the Tejas Mk2) or the even more powerful 110kN engine under development for the AMCA. This shift not only enhances fuel efficiency and reduces maintenance complexity but also aligns the HLFT-42 with contemporary fighter jet trends.
The HF-24 Marut, India’s first indigenous jet fighter, took to the skies in 1961 and served the IAF until the mid-1980s. Designed by German engineer Kurt Tank, it was a Mach 2-capable platform that fell short of its supersonic potential due to underpowered engines. Despite its retirement, the Marut’s stable aerodynamic design left an indelible mark on HAL’s institutional memory. Decades later, HAL turned to this relic, employing advanced 3D scanning to digitally recreate its structure. This process involved laser-based scanning to capture every contour of a preserved HF-24 airframe, generating a detailed digital model that served as the foundation for the HLFT-42.
The HLFT-42’s development stands in stark contrast to the troubled journey of the HJT-36, recently rebranded as Yashas. Conceived in the late 1990s as an intermediate jet trainer to replace the HJT-16 Kiran, the HJT-36 faced a litany of challenges stemming from its clean-sheet design. First flown in 2003, the aircraft suffered from persistent stall and spin recovery issues, delaying its certification for over two decades. These problems were exacerbated by HAL’s decision to deviate from proven designs, opting instead for a new airframe that required extensive wind tunnel testing and modifications—culminating in a crash in 2011 and a redesign in 2019.
The HJT-36 Yashas finally achieved spin certification in 2022, and by Aero India 2025, it was showcased with upgraded avionics and a glass cockpit. However, the prolonged delays—driven by an overly ambitious departure from legacy designs—taught HAL a costly lesson: innovation must be balanced with practicality. For the HLFT-42, HAL pivoted away from such risks, using the HF-24’s scanned blueprint as a tested base to avoid the pitfalls of uncharted aerodynamics, ensuring faster validation and integration with modern systems.
Yet challenges remain. Engine selection for the HLFT-42 is undecided, with options like the GE F414 or indigenous Kaveri still under evaluation, echoing past delays in HAL projects. Nevertheless, the IAF’s interest in a supersonic LIFT trainer, coupled with HAL’s betting on stable design approach, suggests a brighter trajectory than the HJT-36’s rocky path. HLFT-42 a 16.5 ton Aircraft slots it self above Tejas Mk1A and below Tejas MkII (17.5 ton) that will also be Combat Capable that means another 70-80 4.5 gen aircrafts that will double up as Frontline fighters in event of war.
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