Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has embarked on designing a "basic trainer" to replace the HPT-32 aircraft for training young cadets of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The aircraft would be used for imparting basic flying training of pilots, a top HAL official said.

"We have already told our designers to start. Let's start working on the basic trainer. Let us go to the Air Force to make a specification for that," HAL chairman N R Mohanty said.

The HPT-32 is a piston-engine side-by-side two seat primary trainer in use by the IAF since 1984 to undergo the basic stage training by flight cadets.

Over 200 HPT-32 aircraft are in use with the IAF and the Indian Navy.

"The IAF wants a replacement for HPT-32 as it wants for the Kiran aircraft," Mohanty said.

HAL developed in 18 months, the intermediate jet trainer (IJT), intended to replace the Kiran trainer aircraft that made its maiden flight at the Bangalore airport on March 7.

IAF requires estimated 200 IJTs to replace the ageing Kiran trainers over the next decade and has already placed an order for a dozen aircraft, which HAL plans to deliver during 2005.

Asked about a time frame set for developing the new basic trainer, Mohanty said, "We will be very fast… like the IJT.

"Besides delivering it to our forces, the aim is to build aircraft, which can be exported to the world," Mohanty said.

PTI