IAF Begins Process to Acquire 150 Next-Gen Jet Trainers for Fighter Pilot Training

The Indian Air Force has begun the acquisition process for 150 next-generation advanced jet trainers, a programme intended to modernise the final phase of fighter pilot instruction before aircrew transition to operational combat squadrons.

The service has issued a Request for Information (RFI), the first formal step in the procurement cycle, for aircraft that will serve as Stage-III trainers. These platforms are meant to eventually take over from the Hawk Mk-132 fleet, which has formed the backbone of the IAF’s Stage-III training system since entering service in 2008.

Stage-III training is the last link in the IAF’s fighter pilot pipeline. At this point, trainee pilots are prepared for the operational environment they will encounter after moving to frontline types such as the Sukhoi-30MKI, Rafale and Tejas, and later to future combat aircraft including the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA). The new trainer is therefore expected to expose pilots to systems and mission concepts much closer to those used on contemporary fighters.

According to the requirements outlined in the RFI, the aircraft must support training in areas that reflect modern air combat demands, including airborne radar operations, electronic warfare systems and the employment of beyond-visual-range missiles. This represents a clear move beyond the capability level currently available on the Hawk Mk-132.

Procurement path and likely timeline

The RFI is open to both Indian and foreign manufacturers. After this stage, the process is expected to advance to a Request for Proposal (RFP), when shortlisted companies will be invited to submit detailed technical and commercial bids based on the IAF’s finalised requirements.

The RFP is tentatively expected in December 2027. Once a contract takes effect, deliveries are planned to be completed within 60 months. On the current schedule, that would place the arrival of the first aircraft at an IAF training base only in the mid-2030s.

Aircraft that pass technical evaluation will then face field trials in India before a final decision is taken. Under the stated procurement framework, the contract is expected to go to the lowest technically compliant bidder.

What the IAF wants from the new trainer

The IAF is seeking a substantially more capable platform than the Hawk Mk-132. The proposed aircraft must be equipped with fly-by-wire flight controls and a modern glass cockpit featuring configurable hands-on-throttle-and-stick controls.

Navigation requirements are also more demanding. The trainer is expected to integrate India’s NavIC satellite navigation system along with GPS and GLONASS. The RFI additionally calls for zero-zero ejection seats, giving pilots an escape option even if the aircraft is stationary or operating at very low altitude.

Flight safety and handling qualities form another major area of emphasis. The IAF wants an aircraft with strong resistance to departures from controlled flight and the ability to recover automatically to controlled flight if the pilot releases the controls. Such features are particularly relevant for an advanced training role, where students are introduced to more complex manoeuvring and systems management before conversion to combat squadrons.

Indigenous production expected to be central

The programme is also expected to carry a significant domestic manufacturing element. Any foreign company participating will need to indicate how much of the production effort, technology base and supply-chain activity can be transferred or established in India.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited is expected to be the main Indian contender. Among overseas manufacturers that could enter the competition are Italy’s Leonardo, Korea Aerospace Industries, Boeing and Russia’s Yak.

How the requirement fits into the wider training ecosystem

The IAF’s current training ecosystem also includes the HJT-36, which was renamed Yashas at Aero India 2025. That aircraft has been under development for around two decades and has undergone extensive work to address its handling characteristics.

HAL has separately proposed the HLFT-42, a supersonic lead-in fighter trainer positioned as a possible successor to the Hawk. The aircraft was shown as a scale model at Aero India 2023, but it has not yet reached the critical design review stage.

The planned purchase of 150 advanced jet trainers reflects the IAF’s effort to align pilot training with the changing nature of its combat fleet. As fighter operations place greater emphasis on advanced sensors, electronic warfare, network-centric operations and long-range weapons, the final stage of pilot preparation is set to become more demanding. The new Stage-III trainer is intended to bridge that gap, giving pilots a more realistic stepping stone before they move to current and future frontline fighters.