Bangalore, Sept 06: India has the capability to build Advance Jet Trainers (AJTs) which is a much less complex aircraft than the light combat aircraft developed by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), according to national institute of advanced studies director Roddam Narasimha. With the expertise gained by developing the indigenous multi-role LCA, an AJT could be developed in about six to eight years, he said here last night. Indian scientists, he said, had an option of building either an AJT or LCA two decades ago, but choose to develop the latter as they did not have adequate technical resources and manpower for both the projects. "We then decided to go for the LCA and the expertise gained over the last two decades has helped in developing the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) in about 22 months... Which was unthinkable even a decade ago," Narasimha said.
For the Indian aerospace industry to see a boomtime, the government and policy makers should play a larger role, he said, adding there should be larger orders for the LCA and the advanced light helicopter from the armed forces. Bureau Report