Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will begin deliveries of the indigenous Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) from February 2026, marking a critical milestone for India’s basic trainer aircraft program.

The schedule follows an unexpected six-month delay, largely attributed to supply bottlenecks involving the TPE331-12B turboprop engines sourced from the United States-based manufacturer Honeywell.

HAL had initially planned to induct the first batch of HTT-40 aircraft into the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet in 2025.

This timeline was contingent upon Honeywell delivering six engines during the year to support production assembly at HAL’s Bangalore facility.

However, extended logistical disruptions and manufacturing slowdowns in the United States affected the delivery schedule, causing a ripple effect across HAL’s production line.

According to officials within HAL, Honeywell has now assured the delivery of three TPE331-12B engines per month starting in early 2026.

This improved supply cadence is expected to stabilise production and expedite the rollout of the first few HTT-40 aircraft for the IAF by the first quarter of the year.

The engines will be integrated into aircraft undergoing final assembly and flight certification trials under HAL’s trainer aircraft division.

The delay in engine procurement from Honeywell mirrors similar challenges faced by another major US aerospace supplier, GE Aerospace. GE’s F404-IN20 engines, designated for HAL’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) TEJAS MK-1A, have also encountered delivery setbacks impacting the IAF’s fighter enhancement programme.

These sequential disruptions highlight the strategic vulnerability of India’s defence manufacturing supply chains that depend heavily on imported propulsion systems.

The HTT-40 is designed and developed indigenously by HAL as a robust, fully aerobatic basic trainer intended to replace ageing fleets like the HPT-32 'Deepak'. Featuring advanced digital instrumentation and enhanced fuel efficiency, the aircraft supports pilot training across various flight regimes.

With over 70% indigenous content, the platform aligns with the government’s ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative promoting self-reliance in defence manufacturing.

With Honeywell’s renewed commitment and HAL’s readiness to ramp up production, the IAF is expected to begin receiving operational trainer aircraft by mid-2026. This rollout will provide much-needed relief to the service’s training units, which have been operating under capacity constraints due to delays in new aircraft induction.

Based On Hindu Business Line Report