Overview
- This week the Indian Air Force issued a Request for Information for 150 Stage‑III advanced jet trainers to succeed the Hawk Mk‑132 and increase training throughput.
- The RFI sets high technical bars, calling for fly‑by‑wire controls, a glass cockpit with HOTAS, NavIC/GPS/GLONASS navigation, zero‑zero ejection seats and automatic departure recovery.
- It requires extensive onboard simulation and electronic‑warfare capabilities, including embedded virtual avionics, missile‑seeker simulation, secure data links to a 360° dome simulator and Live‑Virtual‑Constructive integration.
- The competition is open to Indian and foreign firms with expectations of local production and technology transfer; Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is named as the principal domestic bidder while Boeing‑Saab T‑7, M‑346, KAI T‑50 and Russian types are among likely foreign contenders.
- The procurement is long‑lead: a tentative RFP is planned for December 2027, trials will be held in India on a no‑cost‑no‑commitment basis, and deliveries must finish within 60 months of contract which makes first squadron service unlikely before the mid‑2030s; the buy is intended to close past trainer shortfalls and prepare pilots for Tejas, Rafale and future AMCA fleets.