Hindustan Aeronautics signs $100-mn deal with Honeywell for trainer engines

The IAF, which currently imparts basic training to army and navy pilots in addition to its own, calculates that it needs 181 basic trainer aircraft

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has signed a $100 million contract with US engine-maker Honeywell, for 88 engines to power the indigenous Hindustan Turbo Trainer – 40 (HTT-40), on which Army, Navy and Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots will first learn to fly.

“HAL signed a contract worth over $100 million for supply and manufacture of 88 TPE331-12B engines/kits along with maintenance and support services to power the HTT-40,” stated a Ministry of Defence (MoD) press announcement on Wednesday.

“HAL has successfully developed Basic Trainer Aircraft (HTT-40) to address the basic training requirements of the IAF. There is potential requirement of 70 aircraft.