At present the trainer fleets of all the three stages—basic, intermediate and advanced—are under transition

The foundations of operationa l capability of the IAF are built up through sound flying training that for long has been structured on a three-stage process designated as basic, intermediate and advanced, with each stage assigned a separate fleet of trainer aircraft. Currently, the trainer fleets of all the three stages are under transition. The HAL built piston-engine HPT-32 basic trainer aircraft remains grounded since August 2009 after a large number of accidents including one in July 2009 wherein two flying instructors perished. Efforts are on to restore airworthiness of the HPT-32 fleet through modifications including fitment of the aircraft parachute recovery system. However, even if the effort succeeds, the fleet may only serve a limited purpose. Meanwhile, with the aim to switch over to training on turboprop aircraft for the basic stage, the IAF has completed trials of the five types shortlisted. These are the US Hawker Beechcraft T-6C, the Pilatus PC-7 Mk II, the Korean Aerospace Industries KT1, EADS PZL130 Orlik TCII from Poland and Grob 120TP from Germany. A total of 75 aircraft at an estimated contract value of $900 million (Rs. 4,050 crore) are to be procured from abroad. The contract is expected to be signed by March 2011 and the vendor may take 18 months to deliver the first batch of 12 machines. Maintenance of the fleet will be the responsibility of HAL i.e. proceeding with the development of the HTT- 40, also referred to as the indigenous basic trainer aircraft. Their proposal is under consideration at Air Headquarters.

The intermediate stage conducted since mid-1970s on the HAL-built HJT-16 Kiran aircraft has been eagerly awaiting the intermediate jet trainer (IJT). Christened as Sitara, the first prototype took to the air on March 7, 2003. Fitted initially by a Snecma Larzac 04-H-20 turbofan non-afterburning engine developing 14.12 kN, the production models will be powered by a more powerful Russian Saturn AL-551 engine delivering a thrust of 16.9 kN. The prototype with Russian AL-55I engine undertook its maiden flight on May 9, 2009.