IAF Begins Global Search for Next-Generation Trainer Aircraft to Replace Ageing Hawk Fleet

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has begun the process of finding a successor to its ageing Hawk MK-132 advanced jet trainers, launching a long-awaited global search for around 150 new aircraft. According to The New Indian Express, the IAF has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to Indian as well as international aircraft manufacturers as it moves toward modernising its advanced pilot-training fleet. The proposed Stage-III (F) trainers will serve as the final training platform before pilots are assigned to operational fighter squadrons. The aircraft are expected to prepare trainee pilots for the increasingly complex systems found on modern combat jets, including airborne radars, electronic warfare equipment and beyond-visual-range missiles. Pilots would eventually transition from these trainers to frontline aircraft such as the Rafale and Tejas, and later to the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA).

Manufacturers have been given until October 5 to submit responses to the RFI. The subsequent evaluation and trials will take place in India under a no-cost, no-commitment arrangement. The current exercise is primarily intended to assess available technologies and industry capabilities, with the formal Request for Proposal (RFP) expected to be issued in December 2027. Under the proposed schedule, deliveries would have to be completed within 60 months of the contract becoming effective. As a result, the first aircraft may not arrive at an IAF training establishment until the middle of the 2030s.

The IAF has indicated a preference for the “Buy (Indian) or better” procurement route. Companies responding to the RFI will therefore have to explain the level of technology transfer they can provide and the extent to which Indian industry can participate in production and support. Potential international candidates could include Leonardo’s M-346 Master and Korea Aerospace Industries’ T-50 family. From India, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is expected to offer its proposed HLFT-42 advanced trainer.

The procurement is planned as a single-stage, two-envelope competition, with technical and commercial proposals evaluated separately. Aircraft that meet the technical requirements will proceed to flight testing in India, after which the contract is expected to go to the lowest bidder among those that successfully meet the technical criteria. The IAF originally contracted 106 Hawk MK-132 aircraft in two batches. The first agreement, signed in 2004, covered 66 aircraft, including 24 supplied from the United Kingdom and 42 produced under licence by HAL. Another 40 aircraft were ordered in 2010.

The officially sanctioned fleet stood at 106 aircraft, although the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence recorded 104 in service during 2017-18. A figure of 123 is sometimes cited because it also includes 17 Hawks ordered for the Indian Navy. The Hawk entered IAF service in 2008 and has remained the forces primary Stage-III trainer for almost two decades. The push for a replacement is driven by more than the age of the existing fleet. The nature of modern air combat has evolved significantly, with frontline fighters increasingly dependent on networked sensors, advanced electronic warfare, long-range weapons and secure tactical data links.

The IAF therefore wants its next advanced trainer to expose pilots to these technologies before they transition to operational aircraft. The situation has become more pressing following the closure of the global Hawk production line. The UK is also examining options for replacing its Hawk trainers and has been pursuing Boeing’s T-7 training system in cooperation with BAE Systems and Saab.

Indias own experience with trainer-aircraft development has also highlighted the challenges involved in delivering indigenous platforms on schedule. The HTT-40 basic trainer, for example, received approval for 106 aircraft in 2020, with an initial contract for 70. Its first series-production aircraft did not fly until October 2025, roughly eight years after the prototype. Supply-chain dependence has also created difficulties. Delays in deliveries of Honeywell engines affected the HTT-40 programme, while GE Aerospace engine availability has contributed to delays involving the Tejas MK-1A. Meanwhile, the HJT-36, now known as Yashas, has spent around two decades in development, while the HLFT-42 remains in the design phase.

The proposed replacement is expected to be considerably more sophisticated than the Hawk. The IAFs requirements include fly-by-wire flight controls, a glass cockpit with configurable Hands-On-Throttle-and-Stick (HOTAS) controls, and navigation combining NavIC with GPS and GLONASS. Zero-zero ejection seats are also part of the specifications. Safety and flight-control systems will be designed to prevent departures from controlled flight and provide automatic recovery capabilities. Another major requirement is embedded simulation, allowing pilots to train with simulated avionics, electronic warfare systems and missile seeker functions without necessarily requiring live equipment.

The aircraft is also expected to feature a secure data link connecting it with a full-motion dome simulator and scenario-generation systems as part of a Live-Virtual-Constructive training environment. Holographic debriefing capabilities are also envisaged to provide more detailed post-flight analysis. Maintenance and operational efficiency have been given significant attention as well. The IAF wants the aircraft to support hot refuelling and rearming within 30 minutes, while engine replacement should be possible within an hour. Artificial-intelligence-based predictive maintenance and an open architecture will also be required to make future upgrades easier.

The requirement comes at a time when the IAF has only 29 operational fighter squadrons against an authorised strength of 42.5. With frontline aircraft already under pressure, using combat jets extensively for advanced pilot training can further strain operational availability. The proposed Stage-III trainer is therefore intended to fill the gap between basic and advanced flying training and the transition to frontline combat aircraft. By familiarising pilots with modern sensors, weapons, electronic warfare and networked operations earlier in their careers, the IAF hopes the new platform will better prepare them for the next generation of Indian fighter aircraft.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Indian Defence News.