The Navy has transferred nine Kiran jet-trainer aircraft from its inventory to the Air Force, which is facing an acute shortage of intermediate jet trainers.
Naval sources have confirmed that the assets have been transferred from the Naval air station INS Hansa in Goa where the Kiran fleet is based.
“The ab initio training takes place with the Air Force. The Navy now has the Hawk advanced jet trainers and so they [Kiran] have been transferred to the Air Force,” a senior Navy official said.
Naval aviators are oriented on the Kiran trainers after which they graduate to frontline fighter jets such as Sea Harriers and MiG-29 Ks. However, the Navy recently inducted the Hawk advanced jet trainers (AJT) and has completely migrated to them for this stage of training.
While the Kiran trainers help in mid-level flying before trainees move on to the AJTs, they are over 30 years old and in urgent need of replacement.
The HJT-36 Sitara intermediate jet trainer being developed by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. is facing technical issues and has missed several developmental deadlines.
So severe is the crisis that the IAF was forced to disband its aerobatic team, Surya Kiran, and divert the planes for training. The shortage of trainers has forced the IAF to cut down on the flying hours of trainee pilots.
