HAL Kiran

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HJT-16 Kiran
A Surya Kiran HAL Kiran aircraft on the Tarmac at Bangalore during Aero India-2007. Note the two wing-mounted smoke generators. Photo by Premshree Pillai.
Type	Basic Jet Trainer
Manufacturer	Hindustan Aeronautics
Maiden flight	1964
Introduced	1968
Status	In Service
Primary users	Indian Air Force Indian Navy
Number built	190

The HAL HJT-16 Kiran (Ray of Light in English) is an Indian two-seat basic jet trainer built by Hindustan Aeronautics. Used by the Indian Air Force for intermediate training for pilots trained on the HPT-32 Deepak. It is used by the Indian Air Force aerobatic team Surya Kiran and Indian naval acrobatic team Sagar Pawans.

Contents 1 Development 1.1 Replacement 2 Variant 3 Operators 4 Specification (Kiran IA) 5 References 6 See also

[edit] Development

The Kiran was designed to meet an Indian air force requirement for a basic jet trainer. The first aircraft powered by the Rolls Royce Viper Mk 11 was flown for the first time on the 4 September 1964. The production aircraft was designated the Kiran I, and first deliveries from a pre-production batch were delivered to the Indian Air Force in March 1968. Later production aircraft were fitted with hardpoints under each wing for weapon training (as the Kiran IA. A total of 190 aircraft were built. An improved version powered by a 3,400 lbf (15,000 N) thrust Bristol-Siddeley Orpheus engine and improved weapon-carrying capability was designated the Kiran II and was delivered from 1983.

[edit] Replacement

Kiran will be replaced with the new HAL HJT-36 trainer undergoing flight trials. The Indian Air Force has already placed orders for 12 such aircraft to replace the Kiran jets used by the Surya Kiran team.

[edit] Variant

• Kiran Mk.I : Two-seat basic jet trainer powered by a Rolls Royce Viper turbo-jet engine.
• Kiran Mk.IA : Two-seat basic jet trainer with armament capability
• Kiran Mk.II : Improved version with four hardpoints and integral twin 7.62 mm machine guns in nose and a Rolls Royce Orpheus engine

[edit] Operators

 India

• Indian Air Force
• Indian Navy

[edit] Specification (Kiran IA)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 34 ft 9 in (10.60 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 1¼in (10.70 m)
• Height: 11 ft 11 in (3.63m)
• Wing area: 204.52 ft² (19.00 m²)
• Empty weight: 5,644 lb (2560 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 9,336 lb ()
• Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Viper turbojet

Performance

• Maximum speed: 695 km/h, kts, 432 mph (695 km/h)
• Service ceiling 30,000 ft (9145 m)

Armament two 500lb (227kg) bombs or 2 7.26mm SNEB rocket pods or 2 pods with 7.62 mm machine guns, or two 50-Imp Gal (226 litre) drop tanks

[edit] References

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 

[edit] See also

v • d • e Aircraft produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Manufacturer designations HT-2 • HJT-16 • HF-24 • HUL-26 • HAOP-27 • HA-31 • HPT-32 • HTT-34 • HJT-36 • HTT-38 By role Light Aircraft: HT-2 • Pushpak • Krishak • Basant • Deepak Jet Trainers Kiran • HJT-36 Fighters: Ajeet • Marut • Tejas • Medium Combat Aircraft Helicopters Dhruv • Light Combat Helicopter Transports Saras Licensed aircraft: Gnat • MiG 21 • MiG 27 • Jaguar • Su-30MKI • Hawk Alouette III • Lama HS 748 • Do 228

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