New Delhi has issued a request for information to procure approximately 150 jet trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force, modernizing its pilot preparatory pipeline.
The procurement aims to replace the military’s aging BAE Systems Hawk Mk 132 subsonic fleet, which has served in the advanced training role since 2008.
If acquired, the new platforms will prepare aircrews for operational 4.5- and fifth-generation combat aircraft, including the Rafale, Tejas Mk-1A, Sukhoi-30 MKI, as well as the force’s upcoming Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, according to local media.
Among key capabilities required for the jets’ assembly are fly-by-wire controls, glass cockpits, modern ejection seats, and full-authority digital engine control.
They must also feature embedded virtual avionics, electronic warfare suites, and compatibility with India’s homegrown NavIC satellite navigation system, while being compatible with 360-degree dome simulators for both simultaneous live and virtual sessions.
Bids Next Year
Potential industry partners can submit responses by October 2026, with a formal request for proposals expected by December 2027.
The air force requires all 150 aircraft to be delivered within 60 months of contract award, with production to be carried out using indigenous teams and technology transfer under the Indian defense procurement mandate.
Sources noted possible contenders for the program include the locally made HAL HLFT-42, the Boeing-Saab T-7 Red Hawk, South Korea’s KAI T-50 Golden Eagle, and Italy’s Leonardo M-346 Master.
Airborne Fleet Expansion
India’s latest move follows additional efforts to increase its firepower and tactical logistics across the aerial domain.
Earlier in August, the South Asian government announced the start of its formal participation in the French-led Future Combat Air System program that aims to build a sixth-generation jet for allied forces.
The country also launched the first indigenous Airbus C-295 aircraft as part of its 2021 framework to produce up to 56 new airlifters for high-altitude military transport tasks.
Those recent milestones followed reports of Israel as a potential contractor for a major Indian Air Force refueling aircraft program in late 2025, and New Delhi’s development of a separate, electric-powered aircraft for more efficient tactical aviation training.
An Indian Hawk Mk 132 aircraft. Photo: Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Caroline H. Lui/US Navy