HAL Ajeet

infobox Aircraft
name = Ajeet


caption =
type = Fighter
manufacturer = Hindustan Aeronautics Limited
first flight = 1982
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user = Indian Air Force
more users =
produced =
number built = 89 (including 10 upgraded Gnats)
unit cost =
developed from = Folland Gnat
variants with their own articles =

The HAL Ajeet was a development of the British Folland Gnat fighter that was built under licence in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.

Design and development

The Indian Air Force (IAF) issued a requirement for a Gnat Mk 2 in 1972. Although the original requirement called for an interceptor, it was later modified to include a secondary ground-attack role. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) modified two Gnats to act as test-bed aircraft for subsystems; these first flew in 1975, followed by the first flight of production aircraft on the 30th of September 1976. The aircraft was given the name "Ajeet", Sanskrit for "Invincible" or "Unconquered".

The changes from the original Gnat were considerable. They included:
* Improvements to the hydraulics and control systems (these had been a source of difficulties in the Gnat).
* Fitting of improved Martin-Baker GF4 ejection seats.
* Upgraded avionics.
* The addition of slab tail control surfaces.
* Improvements to the landing gear.
* Additional internal fuel capacity.
* Installation of two more underwing hardpoints.

Visually, the Ajeet appeared similar to the Gnat, with the presence of two extra hardpoints being the only obvious distinguishing features from the older aircraft.

The Ajeet entered service with the IAF in 1977 and was retired in 1991. It never saw combat.

A HAL project for a trainer based on the Ajeet was begun, leading to the initial flight of a prototype in 1982. Unfortunately this aircraft was lost in a crash later that year. A second prototype flew the following year, followed by a third. But a lack of government interest and the imminent phaseout of the aircraft meant no more examples were produced. The two surviving aircraft were sent to the only unit in the IAF operating the Ajeet, No.2 Squadron. The aircraft served with the Squadron until the phaseout of the Ajeet in 1991.

Variants

* Gnat Mk 2 : The original Indian Air Force designation for the Ajeet Mk 1.
* Ajeet Mk 1 : Single-seat lightweight ground-attack and interceptor fighter aircraft.
* Ajeet Mk 2 Trainer : Two-seat advanced jet training prototype.

Operators

; IND
* Indian Air Force
** No. 2 Squadron, Indian Air Force

pecifications (HAL Ajeet)

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet

crew=1
length main=28 ft 8 in
length alt=8.74 m
span main=22 ft 1 in
span alt=6.73 m
height main=8 ft 1 in
height alt=2.46 m
area main=136.6 ft²
area alt=12.69 m²
empty weight main=5,090 lb
empty weight alt=2,307 kg
loaded weight main=lb
loaded weight alt=kg
max takeoff weight main=9,195 lb
max takeoff weight alt=4,171 kg

engine (jet)=TJE HAL/Bristol-Siddeley Orpheus 701-01
type of jet=turbojet
number of jets=1
thrust main=4,705 lbf
thrust alt=20.9 kN

max speed main=761 mph at 20,000 ft
max speed alt=1,225 km/h at 6,100 m
range main=500 mi
range alt=805 km
ceiling main=48,000 ft
ceiling alt=14,630 m
climb rate main=20,000 ft/min
climb rate alt=101.6 m/s
loading main= lb/ft²
loading alt= kg/m²
thrust/weight=

avionics=

armament=
*2× 30 mm ADEN cannons
*Up to 1985 lb (900 kg) of external stores on four underwing hardpoints

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Folland Midge
* Folland Gnat

similar aircraft=
* Northrop F-5
* T-33 Shooting Star
* T-38 Talon

lists=
* List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force

see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.vectorsite.net/avgnat.html FOLLAND GNAT / HAL AJEET from Greg Goebel's AIR VECTORS]