March 04, 2013: A storm may be brewing over HAL's intermediate jet trainer, with the IAF and HAL in stark divergence over the state of the troubled programme. The HJT-36 Sitara is to achieve initial operational clearance (IOC) by December this year. The programme was grounded for over a year following the crash of a prototype in April 2011. The programme is back into full-fledged flight test since last year and is now cruising hopefully towards a logical conclusion.

The IAF has placed an indent for 85 IJTs to stage-2 training of pilots between the Pilatus PC-7 Mk-II aircraft in Hyderabad and the Hawks at Bidar. The IJTs are to replace the IAF's ageing HJT-16 Kirans. Last month, IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal N.A.K. Browne said, "We have been disappointed. It has been in development for 8-9 years, and has now been stalled for so long. There are engine issues too. It has only been cleared for 100 hours of flying before overhaul. It needs to be expanded to 1,200-1,400 hours". In a divergent view, HAL's Chairman R.K. Tyagi has said, "Yes, there have been delays. Our focus is on the IJT, and our friends in the IAF are fully supportive of it. Internal target for IOC is December 2013, but we are looking at FY 2013."