Bangalore: The absence of advanced jet trainers (AJTs) has not made the training process at the Indian Air Force (IAF) training commands inferior "in any way", a top official of the IAF training command said.

"Induction of AJTs will upgrade the training. But that does not mean that it (the training) is inferior in any way in its absence," Air Marshal B K Pandey, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Headquarters Training Command, IAF, Bangalore, said.

Speaking to reporters, Pandey, who recently took over as the chief of the training command, said AJT "is yet to come" but the training had been going on without it for the last several decades.

"However, there has to be a qualitative upgradation in any area," he said.

To a query, he said the Supersonic MiG-21 aircraft was presently "outside" the training command for training purpose and added that a proposal had been made to the government to bring it under the training commands.

On intermediate jet trainers, which are being made by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), he said according to his information, it would not be a surprise if its first flight takes place in a few weeks. IJT, to replace Kiran trainer aircraft, was in the advanced stage of development.

PTI