Bengaluru: After modifications carried out by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to resolve departure characteristics and spin resistance throughout the aircraft envelope, the Hindustan Jet Trainer—HJT-36—has been renamed “Yashas”.
The HAL flagship project has been developed by the Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC).
On Monday, Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production), unveiled the new name in the presence of Dr D.K. Sunil, chairman and managing director, HAL and senior officers on the first day of Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru.
“The large-scale changes to the baseline intermediate training platform have led to significant upheaval in its capabilities, and hence provided an opportunity for a new name to be given in accordance with the aircraft’s continued relevance as a training system for modern military aviation. In light of this, HJT-36 is named Yashas,” Sunil said.
For its induction into service, the aircraft was recently upgraded with state-of-the-art avionics and an ultra-modern cockpit. These will enhance training effectiveness and operational efficiency, while providing weight reduction and overcoming obsolescence of imported equipment.
Yashas will come in handy for troops as it is capable of Stage II pilot training, counter insurgency and counter surface force operations, armament training and aerobatics, etc.
It is powered by a full-authority digital engine control (FADEC) AL55I jet engine, providing best in class thrust to weight ratio, optimised thrust management and reliability, said HAL in a statement.
The stepped-up rear cockpit with drooped nose provides excellent all-around vision and enhanced situational awareness with state-of-the-art glass cockpit with multi-functional display and head-up display.
The capabilities of Yashas are stall and spin, aerobatics, armament carriage up to 1,000 kg, single-point ground refuelling and defuelling.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)