HAL Announces Supersonic Omni-role Trainer Aircraft Project

India’s state-run Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) is keen to launch the indigenous development of Supersonic Omni Role Trainer Aircraft (SPORT) and will feature a simulator during the upcoming edition of Aero india airshow later this month.

SPORT will have 4++ generation or equivalent capabilities to bridge the gap in pilot training to command front line fighters. The SPORT aircraft will be utilized for fighter training after Advanced Jet Training stage and before induction of pilots into a frontline fighter squadron, the company said in a statement Thursday.

Dassault Rafale will be the first omni-role aircraft that will be inducted into the Indian Air Force. The IAF has so far has had no omnirole aircraft in their kitty. Dassault describes its Rafale as being an "omnirole" fighter, a tag that it says denotes the type's ability to perform multiple mission types simultaneously.

HAL will fly it's indigenous products Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, HTT-40 (Basic Trainer Aircraft), first indigenously upgraded Hawk Mk132, named as Hawk-i, Civil Do-228, Advanced Light Helicopter (Rudra), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) during Aero India 2019.