HAL HJT-16 Kiran (Ray of Light)

Intermediate-Advanced Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft

India | 1968

"The Indian HJT-16 Kiran flew for the first time on September 4th, 1964, and remains in service today - though its replacement is in active development."

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the HAL HJT-16 Kiran IA Intermediate-Advanced Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft.

1 x Rolls-Royce "Viper" turbojet developing 2,500 lb of thrust.
Propulsion

432 mph
695 kph | 375 kts
Max Speed

30,020 ft
9,150 m | 6 miles
Service Ceiling

463 miles
745 km | 402 nm
Operational Range

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran IA Intermediate-Advanced Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft.

2
(MANNED)
Crew

34.8 ft
10.60 m
O/A Length

35.1 ft
(10.70 m)
O/A Width

11.9 ft
(3.64 m)
O/A Height

5,644 lb
(2,560 kg)
Empty Weight

9,337 lb
(4,235 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran (Ray of Light) Intermediate-Advanced Trainer / Light Attack Aircraft .

OPTIONAL:
2 x 500 lb conventional drop bombs.
2 x SNEB rocket pods (7 x 68mm rockets each).
2 x 7.62mm gun pods.
2 x Jettisonable fuel drop tanks.

Kiran Mk.II:
2 x 7.62mm ADEN machine guns in nose.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the HAL HJT-16 Kiran (Ray of Light) family line.

Kiran ("Ray of Light") - Base Series Name

Kiran Mk.I - Basic trainer fitted with the Rolls-Royce Viper turbojet engine; 24 preproduction models with 118 production examples following.

Kiran Mk.IA - Armed basic trainer fitted with four underwing hardpoints; 72 examples delivered to this standard.

Kiran Mk.II - Improved Kiran; fitted with Rolls-Royce Orpheus engine for increased performance; four underwing hardpoints; 2 x nose-mounted 7.62mm ADEN machine guns.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/02/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Not content with relying on purchase of foreign military goods, the nation of India has long been nurturing an aeronautics industry. This has produced a mixed bag of results which has keep a focus on foreign suppliers, making India the biggest military customer in the world today (2015). However, some programs did in fact yield fruit such as the HAL "Kiran" ("Ray of Light") which became an indigenous two-seat intermediate jet trainer. The type has served through over 200 total examples across the Indian Air Force (IAF) and Indian Navy since its introduction in 1968. Design work was held out of Bangalore in 1961 and a first flight was had on September 4th, 1964.

The Kiran emerged from an IAF requirement calling for an intermediate/advanced jet trainer capable of preparing Indian pilots for the subtleties of high performance, jet-powered flight. This led to an aircraft of largely conventional design sporting unswept, low-mounted monoplane wings, a single-finned tail arrangement and a tricycle undercarriage. Its crew numbered two and were arranged in a wide cockpit offering side-by-side seating with good vision around the forward section of the aircraft. The cockpit was situated well-forward in the design and aft of a short nosecone assembly. Having passed its tests and evaluation phase, the design was adopted for service under the "Kiran" name with initial models designated "Mk I".

HAL manufactured 24 preproduction Mk I models with deliveries coming in 1968 and 118 further Mk I aircraft followed. These early series models were outfitted with the British Bristol (Rolls-Royce) "Viper" turbojet engine and lacked underwing hardpoints for weapons training. The latter was rectified through the Mk IA which resulted in 72 built to this standard, now featuring two hardpoints under each wing for rocket pods, conventional drop stores and / or machine gun pods to fulfill a light attack function. Additionally, they were plumbed for fuel delivery by way of jettisonable external tanks. Official Indian Air Force Academy service entry of the Mk I was in 1973 and a small stock also fell to the Indian Navy.

As completed, the Mk IA carried the Viper turbojet of 2,500 lb thrust output. Its maximum speed reached 430 miles per hour with cruising speeds being around 200 mph. The listed service ceiling was 30,000 feet.

The Mk II was an improved model outfitted with the Rolls-Royce "Orpheus" engine of 4,200 lb thrust. A prototype went airborne for the first time on July 30th, 1976 and added two 7.62mm ADEN machine guns in the nose as well as updated hydraulics. The new jet was both a better performance and better hauler over the original but it's loaded range and night capabilities limited interest to the point that development of the model did not officially conclude until 1983. Sixty-one Mk II aircraft then arrived beginning in March of 1985 and deliveries continued until 1989. Again the Indian Navy received some (six) Mk II models.

The Kiran series is currently set to be replaced by the in-development HAL HJY-36 series advanced trainers which is a much more modern alternative. Both are the product of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) of India.

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Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the HAL HJT-16 Kiran (Ray of Light). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 203 Units
Contractor(s): Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) - India

[ India ]

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