List of Indian aircraft

Last updated

The article constitutes most of notable aircraft produced by India. Since its independence, India has designed and produced a number of civilian and military aircraft. State-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) remains the largest manufacturer of aircraft in country.

Contents

Trainers

Name and designationImageManufacturerFirst flightStatusNumber builtNotesRef (s)
HAL HT-2
HAL HT-2 (1).jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited5 August 1951Retired172 [1]
HAL Pushpak (HUL-26)
HUL-26 Pushpak at HAL Museum 7858.JPG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited28 September 1958In limited use as private aircraft160+ [2]
HAL Kiran (HJT-16)
HJT-16 Kiran - Aero India 2011 - 16.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited4 September 1964In service190 [3] [4]
HAL Deepak (HPT-32 and HTT-34)
HAL Deepak.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited6 January 1977In service125HTT-34, the Turboprop variant of aircraft was introduced in 1984 [5] [6]
HAL HTT-35Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-Cancelled0Envisaged as replacement of HPT-32, never built.
HAL Sitara (HJT-36)
Hindustan HJT-36 Sitara Krivchikov 2007.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited7 March 2003Limited series production16Induction due for 2023 [7]
HAL HTT-40
HAL HTT40 aeroIndia.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited31 May 2016In development2 prototypesDeveloped as replacement for HPT-32. Total 106 airframes are planned for Indian Air Force. [8] [9]
HAL Combat Air Trainer (HJT-39)Hindustan Aeronautics LimitedNever flownCancelled0Dropped in favour of Hawk 132. [10]
HAL SPORT (Supersonic Omni Role Trainer Aircraft)Hindustan Aeronautics LimitedTBDDesigning phaseAdvanced trainer based on HAL Tejas fighter aircraft. [11] [12]
HAL LIFT (Lead-In Fighter Trainer)Hindustan Aeronautics LimitedTBDProposedAdvanced trainer based on HAL Tejas fighter aircraft.

Civilian

Rotorcraft

NameImageManufacturerRoleFirst flightStatusNumber builtNotesRef (s)
HAL Dhruv (ALH)
VT-XLH HAL Dhruv (8414607154).jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Utility helicopter 20 August 1992In service335Number includes both military and civil aircraft [13]

Fixed wing

NameImageManufacturerRoleFirst flightStatusNumber builtNotesRef (s)
HAL Basant
Basant by HAL 7871.JPG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Agricultural aircraft 30 March 1972Out of production39 [14]
NAL Hansa
NAL Hansa at HAL Museum 7818.JPG
National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL)Light trainer23 November 1993In production17 [15]
NAL Saras
HAL Saras.jpg
National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) Airliner 29 May 2004Mk1 in production, Mk2 in development2 prototypesMk2 proposed for flight in 2025 [16]
NAL NM5
The first flight of C-NM5 on sep 1,2011.jpg
National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) and Mahindra & Mahindra General aviation 1 September 2011Cancelled1 prototype
HAL/NAL Regional Transport Aircraft (Indian Regional Jet)HAL and NAL Airliner TBDIn development

Military

Rotorcraft

NameImageManufacturerRoleFirst flightStatusNumber builtNotesRef (s)
HAL Dhruv (ALH) and variants
DhruvMKIII.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Utility helicopter 20 August 1992In service335Number includes both military and civil aircraft [13]
HAL Rudra (Dhruv-WSI)Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Attack helicopter 16 August 2007In service91 (+75 on order)Weaponized version of Dhruv [17]
HAL Prachand (Light Combat Helicopter)
HAL LCH Camo.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Attack helicopter 29 March 2010In production9 (+15 LSP and 162 choppers planned) [18]
HAL Light Utility Helicopter
LUH at Leh.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics LimitedLight Utility Helicopter6 September 2016In production3 (187 planned) [19]
Indian Multi Role Helicopter
Hal imrh.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics LimitedMedium multirole helicopter2024-25Under development [20]
HAL's Medium Combat Helicopter ProgramHindustan Aeronautics LimitedLarge attack helicopter2027Under development [21]

Fixed Wing

NameImageManufacturerRoleFirst flightStatusNumber builtNotesRef (s)
HAL Krishak (HAOP-27)
HAL Krishak.JPG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Surveillance aircraft November 1959Retired70 [22]
HAL Marut (HF-24)
HAL HF-24 Marut D-1205.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Fighter-bomber 17 June 1961Retired147 [23]
HAL HF-73
HF-73 schematic diagram.png
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Strike fighter Never flownCancelled0 [24]
HAL Ajeet
HAL Ajeet F.1 (E1076) (or possibly IE1076) (26982567376).jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Fighter aircraft 30 September 1976Retired89 [25]
HAL Tejas (Light Combat Aircraft)
Two HAL Tejas flying in formation.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Multirole combat aircraft 4 January 2001In production40 (+83 on order) [26]
HAL Tejas Mk2 (Medium Weight Fighter)Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Multirole combat aircraft 2023 (planned)Building prototypes [27]
HAL TEDBF (Twin Engine Deck Based Fighter)
HALTEDBFAeroindia2021.png
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Carrier-based fighter2026 (Expected)Under development [28]
HAL AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft)
AMCA model displayed during Aero India 2021.jpg
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Stealth multirole fighter 2024 (Expected)Building prototypes [29]

Unmanned aerial vehicles

NameTypeRoleProduced byStatusRef (s)
DRDO Kapothaka Fixed-wing UAVTechnology demonstrator ADE Retired
DRDO Nishant Fixed-wing UAV Reconnaissance ADE Out of service
DRDO Fluffy Target drone ADE Out of production
DRDO Ulka Air-launched target drone ADE In service
DRDO Lakshya Target drone ADE In service
DRDO Abhyas High-speed Expendable Aerial Target (HEAT) or Target drone ADE In production
DRDO Imperial Eagle Fixed-wingMini-UAV ADE Flight tested only
DRDO Netra Quadcopter Mini-UAV R&DE, ideaForgeIn service
NAL LCRA (Light Canard Research Aircraft)Fixed-wing UAVTechnology demonstrator National Aerospace Laboratories Retired
DRDO Rustom Fixed-wing UAVMedium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) ADE Flight trials
DRDO Archer (Weaponized Rustom-I)Fixed-wing UCAVMedium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) ADE Under development
TAPAS-BH-201 (Rustom-II)Fixed-wingMedium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) ADE In production
DRDO Ghatak Stealth Flying wing UAV Unmanned combat aerial vehicle ADE Prototype testing
IAI-HAL NRUAV RotorcraftUnmanned naval helicopter Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Under development

Ultralight

See also

Notes and References

Notes

    Related Research Articles

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Hindustan Aeronautics Limited</span> Indian public sector aerospace manufacturing company

    Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is an Indian public sector aerospace and defence company, headquartered in Bangalore. Established on 23 December 1940, HAL is one of the oldest and largest aerospace and defence manufacturers in the world. HAL began aircraft manufacturing as early as 1942 with licensed production of Harlow PC-5, Curtiss P-36 Hawk and Vultee A-31 Vengeance for the Indian Air Force. HAL currently has 11 dedicated Research and development (R&D) centres and 21 manufacturing divisions under 4 production units spread across India. HAL is managed by a board of directors appointed by the President of India through the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. HAL is currently involved in designing and manufacturing of fighter jets, helicopters, jet engine and marine gas turbine engine, avionics, software development, spares supply, overhauling and upgrading of Indian military aircraft.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">HAL Tejas</span> Indian lightweight multirole fighter

    The HAL Tejas is an Indian single-engine, 4.5 generation delta wing multirole combat aircraft designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy. Tejas made its first flight in 2001 and entered into service with the IAF in 2015. In 2003, the aircraft was officially named 'Tejas'. Currently Tejas is the smallest and lightest in its class of supersonic combat aircraft.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Tractor</span> US manufacturer of agricultural aircraft

    Air Tractor Inc. is a United States aircraft manufacturer based in Olney, Texas. Founded in 1978, the company began manufacturing a new agricultural aircraft derived from the S-2B aircraft. Designated Model AT-300 Air Tractor, the new aircraft first flew in 1973.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">HAL HJT-16 Kiran</span> Indian jet trainer aircraft

    The HAL HJT-16 Kiran is an Indian two-seat intermediate jet-powered trainer aircraft designed and manufactured by aircraft company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">PZL-130 Orlik</span> Trainer aircraft

    The PZL 130 Orlik is a Polish turboprop, single engine, two seat trainer aircraft.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri</span> Afterburning turbofan aircraft engine

    The GTRE GTX-35VS Kaveri is an afterburning turbofan project developed by the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), a lab under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Bengaluru, India. An Indian design, the Kaveri was originally intended to power production models of the HAL Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. However, the Kaveri programme failed to satisfy the necessary technical requirements or keep up with its envisaged timelines and was officially delinked from the Tejas programme in September 2008.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">HAL HPT-32 Deepak</span> Type of aircraft

    The HAL HPT-32 Deepak is an Indian prop-driven primary trainer manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. It has two seats in side-by-side configuration.

    ENAER is a Chilean aircraft manufacturer.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">HAL Pushpak</span> Type of aircraft

    The Hindustan HUL-26 Pushpak ("Flower") was a 1950s Indian two-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, based on the Aeronca Chief.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">HAL HT-2</span> Type of aircraft

    The HAL HT-2 is an Indian two-seat primary trainer designed and built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The HT-2 was the first company design to enter production in 1953 for the Indian Air Force and Navy, where it replaced the de Havilland Tiger Moth. The HT-2 is a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear. Powered by a 155 hp (116 kW) Cirrus Major III piston engine, the aircraft has enclosed tandem cockpits with dual controls. Apart from military use, the aircraft was also used by Indian flying schools.

    Janes All the World's Aircraft is an aviation annual publication founded by John Frederick Thomas Jane in 1909. Long issued by Sampson Low, Marston in Britain, it has been published by Janes Information Services since 1989/90.

    The Dätwyler 1038 MDC Trailer was a 1960s Swiss glider tug variant of the American Piper PA-18 Super Cub.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Robin R3000</span> French single-engined light aircraft

    The Robin R 3000 is a French single-engined light aircraft designed and built by Avions Robin, which entered production in the 1980s.

    The Terzi T-9 Stiletto is an Italian two-seat light aircraft designed by Milanese aeronautical engineer Pietro Terzi who built a demonstrative prototype at his firm Terzi Aerodyne based in Milan, Italy.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">PZL Rzeszów SO-3</span>

    The PZL Rzeszów SO-1 and PZL Rzeszów SO-3 are Polish turbojet engines designed by the Instytut Lotnictwa and manufactured by WSK PZL Rzeszów, to power the PZL TS-11 Iskra jet trainer. Thirty SO-1s were built, this being superseded by the improved SO-3, of which a further 580 were built. The engine has a seven-stage compressor, annular combustion chambers, and a single-stage turbine.

    The Indian Air Force has been undergoing a modernization program to replace and upgrade outdated equipment since the late 1990s to meet modern standards. For that reason, it has started procuring and developing aircraft, weapons, associated technologies, and infrastructures. Some of these programs date back to the late 1980s. The primary focus of current modernization and upgrades is to replace aircraft purchased from the Soviet Union that currently form the backbone of the Air Force.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">ENAER Ñamcú</span> Chilean light aircraft design

    The ENAER ECH-02 Ñamcú was a single-engine, two-seat, light aircraft, designed and built by the Chilean manufacturer ENAER. A first prototype flew in 1989, and while the joint venture company Euro-ENAER was set up to build the aircraft in the Netherlands as the Euro-Enaer Eaglet, these plans failed when Euro-ENAER went bankrupt in 2002.

    <span class="mw-page-title-main">Mylius My 102 Tornado</span> German aerobatic aircraft

    The Mylius My 102 Tornado is a prototype single-seat German aerobatic aircraft. It was designed as a smaller derivative of the MBB Bo 209, but was not placed in production, with only two aircraft built.

    References

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    9. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (n.d.). "Hal htt-40". Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
    10. Aero India - Local rival to BAE Hawk proposed - Flight Global, 15 FEBRUARY, 2005
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    24. "#SundaySpecial: HF-73: India's Ignored Path To Global Prowess?". The Frontier Vedette. 1 November 2020. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
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    Bibliography