Aero India-2025: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s upgraded HJT-36 trainer aircraft unveiled as ‘Yashas’

The indigenously developed Hindustan Jet Trainer, HJT-36, has been renamed as the ‘Yashas’ after extensive modifications to resolve certain technical issues that the aircraft's earlier variant had encountered.

The upgraded aircraft, produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was unveiled at the Aero India-2025 on Monday by Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar.

“The large-scale changes to the baseline intermediate training platform has 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, the HJT-36 is named the Yashas,” Dr DK Sunil, Chairman-cum-Managing Director of HAL, said.

Earlier, the Yashas was called the Sitara, and was developed to replace the HJT-16 Kiran trainer. Problems that had cropped up with the Sitara included departure from controlled flight and issues with critical stall and spin characteristics. Some structural modifications and design changes were also carried out to solve the problems.

For 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, whilst providing weight reduction and overcoming obsolescence of imported equipment with Indian Line Repair Units.

The Yashas is capable of the Stage-II pilot training, counter-insurgency and counter-surface force operations, armament training, aerobatics, etc.

The Stage-2 training follows the basic flying training, where pilots learn more complex manoeuvres and aircraft systems and prepares them for their opted stream like fighters or transport. The Stage-2 is followed by more advanced and specific training. It is powered by a FADEC-controlled AL55I jet engine, providing best-in-the-class thrust to weight ratio, optimised thrust management and reliability.

A stepped-up rear cockpit with drooped nose provides excellent all-around vision and enhanced situational awareness with a state-of-the-art glass cockpit having multi-functional displays and head-up display.

The capabilities of the HJT-36 include stall and spin, aerobatics, armament carriage up to 1,000 kg, and single-point ground refuelling and defueling.