NEW DELHI — The Indian Air Force (IAF) has started the process to find a new advanced jet trainer to replace its Hawk Mk-132 fleet, issuing a Request for Information (RFI) for approximately 150 Stage-III (F) training aircraft.
The new trainers will be used during the final stage of fighter pilot training, before pilots move to operational fighter squadrons. The requirement is aimed at providing trainees with experience on systems and capabilities relevant to modern combat aircraft, including airborne radars, electronic warfare systems and beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles.
The training will prepare pilots for aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale and indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, and eventually the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).
Foreign and Indian Aircraft in the Competition
The RFI has been issued to Indian and global aerospace manufacturers. Among the foreign aircraft expected to compete are Leonardo's M-346 Master and Korea Aerospace Industries' T-50 family.
India's main domestic option is Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer (HLFT-42). HAL first displayed a scale model of the aircraft in 2023. The proposed trainer has been designed with the aim of replicating advanced avionics and systems associated with modern fighter aircraft.
The competition will allow the IAF to assess available aircraft and their technical capabilities, as well as areas such as indigenous content, technology transfer and delivery schedules.
Procurement Timeline
The current RFI is the market-sounding stage of the procurement process. Responses from the original equipment manufacturers are expected by October 5.
The IAF is tentatively scheduled to issue the formal Request for Proposal (RFP) in December 2027. The RFP would begin the actual bidding stage of the programme.
After the RFP stage, the aircraft competing for the requirement are expected to undergo trials in India on a no-cost, no-commitment basis. These trials will allow the IAF to evaluate the aircraft under its required operating and training conditions.
According to defence sources, deliveries are expected to be completed within 60 months of the final contract signing. Based on the current procurement timeline, the first aircraft could therefore arrive at an IAF flying training base only in the mid-2030s.
Replacing the Hawk Mk-132
The Hawk Mk-132 has been the backbone of the IAF's Stage-III fighter pilot training at Air Force Station Bidar. The aircraft entered Indian service in 2008, with the majority of India's fleet produced under licence by HAL.
The Hawk has also been used by the Surya Kiran aerobatic team.
The new procurement reflects the IAF's requirement for a more advanced training platform as pilots transition to increasingly capable fighter aircraft. The proposed fleet of around 150 trainers would provide the IAF with a new platform for the final stage of fighter pilot training while the service continues to introduce newer combat aircraft.
The selection process will now determine which aircraft best meets the IAF's requirements for the next generation of advanced fighter pilot training.
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