US company Honeywell announced on 11 June that it had delivered the first three TPE331-12B engines to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for use on the latter’s HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft.
The HTT-40 turboprop is scheduled to become an indigenous basic trainer in the Indian Air Force (IAF), and production of the aircraft has already been under way. Actually, two series-produced HTT-40s are currently flying with used TPE331-12B engines that powered the prototype.
Ravi K, Chairman and Managing Director of HAL, explained: “These deliveries mark a significant milestone for the HTT-40 programme, and we’re confident future engine deliveries will continue on schedule.”
He was alluding to the fact that these engine deliveries had been delayed. Under Honeywell’s original US$100 million contract inked in July 2022, the first of 88 engines were supposed to be delivered last September. Bottlenecks in the global supply chain were blamed for delays.
The IAF ordered 70 HTT-40 trainers on 7 March 2023. Under the US$388 million contract, HAL was supposed to deliver the first dozen aircraft to the IAF in FY2025-26.
12/06/2026 Gordon Arthur/Asian Military Review
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