HAL to show HLFT-42 LIFT Aircraft in Aero India 2023 for the first time

Source : Indian Defence Updates (IDU)

HAL HLFT-42 Lead-in Fighter Trainer (LIFT) design (Image Source: Twitter NeutronX @Archit_Ch)

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will display a scale model of the upcoming Hindustan Lead-in Fighter Trainer (HLFT-24) at the Aero India 2023 also known as HLFT-42 aircraft that is being developed as a low-cost Lead-In Fighter Trainer (LIFT) to compete in international markets against Korean FA-50 and Chinese JL-10.

The HLFT-42 single-engine fighter features islet-style variable exhaust with a front nose section long enough to have a tandem seat cockpit that can accommodate very small-sized Fire Control Radar system.

It will be an all-metal aircraft to reduce cost and will likely be powered by either the General Electric F-404 engine or the indigenous Kaveri engine derivative.