Bangalore: The indigenously developed intermediate jet trainer (IJT) on March 7 took to the skies on its maiden flight.

The aircraft (HJT-36), flown by Squadron Leader Baldev Singh, took off at 2:00 pm and it flew for 20 minutes over the Bangalore sky, sources in Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) told reporters.

An official flight demonstration in the presence of Defence Minister George Fernandes would be held later this week, sources added.

Designed and developed by HAL, the HJT-36 is being built to replace the Kiran basic jet trainer aircraft of the Indian Air Force and the Indian Navy from 2006, sources said.

An estimated 200 IJTs are projected to be required over the next two decades by the Defence forces, sources said.

The IJT project got a formal go-ahead in July 1999, but the actual work on it began just 18 months ago.

Powered by a Snecma Larzac 04-30 turbofan engine with Fadec, the HJT-36's cockpit has French/British and Indian avionics, which represent a logical progression for the student pilot from that of HPT-32 piston-engined trainer and prepare him thereafter for stage III flying training on the advanced jet trainer or lead-in fighter aircraft, sources said.

During the recent Aero-India air show, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy had appreciated the progress made by HAL in developing the HJT-36.

He had placed an order for 16 IJT's to form the next "Surya Kiran" aerobatics team of the Indian Air Force.

PTI