Some background:The HAL Ajeet II (Sanskrit: अजित, for Invincible or Unconquerable) was a development of the British Folland Gnat fighter that was built under license in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) operated the Folland Gnat light jet fighter from 1958, with over 200 aircraft being license built by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). The aircraft proved successful in combat in both the 1965 and the 1971 War with Pakistan, both in the low-level air superiority role and for short range ground attack missions, while being cheap to build and operate. It had unreliable systems, though, particularly the control system, and was difficult to maintain. The Indian Air Force therefore issued a requirement for an improved Gnat in 1972. Although the original requirement called for an interceptor, it was later modified to include a secondary ground-attack role.
The aircraft was given the name "Ajeet" and 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 with "wet wings" to free the original pair of underwing pylons for weapons.
- Installation of two more underwing hardpoints.
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited modified the final two Gnats on the production line as prototypes for the Ajeet, with the first one flying on 6 March 1975, with the second following on 5 November. Testing proved successful of the Ajeet, and it became the first production aircraft flew on 30 September 1976. 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, but this was not the end of the Gnat/Ajeet's development potential. 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 phase-out of the aircraft meant no more examples were produced.
Another, more radical Gnat derivate was more successful, the supersonic Ajeet II. The development of this aircraft started in 1978, and while the Ajeet II outwardly looked very much like its 1st generation kin, it was an almost completely different aircraft.
Basic idea had been to get the Ajeet up to the performance of the Northrop F-5A Freedom Fighter - with major focus on speed and overall better performance. It was soon clear that the original, the single HAL/Bristol Siddeley Orpheus 701-01 turbojet with 20.0 kN (4,500 lbf) of thrust would not suffice. Consequently, HAL engineers worked on the internal structure of the Gnat/Ajeet to cramp two smaller Rolls Royce Viper engines with indigenous afterburners into the fuselage. At full power the small aircraft was now powered with almost twice as much power, but modifications were considerable, including new air intakes with shock cones and new ducts, which necessitated a lower location of the Aden cannons under the intakes instead of their flanks.
The rear fuselage had to be widened and lengthened accordingly, and the wings were also completely new, with a thinner profile, less depth and a higher sweep at quarter chord. The wing area was ~30% bigger than before and also offered an increased internal space for fuel.
The elongated forward fuselage was used for an additional fuel tank as well as more sophisticated avionics - including a RP-21 radar that was also installed in the license-built Indian MiG-21. The new systems allowed the use of R-3S 'Atoll') AAMs (of Soviet or Chinese origin) or French Matra Magic AAMs, four of which could be carried under the wings.
The development of the engines was protracted, though, especially the afterburner went through a lot of teething troubles, so that development aircraft had to get by without th extra performance punch. The first Ajeet II prototype flew in 1984 and the type was ready for service in 1986 and adopted by two fighter squadrons which started to retire the 1st generation Gnats and also some Hunters. Anyway, upon commissioning it was already clear that the Ajeet II would not have a bright future, as the classic gun fighter had become more and more obsolete.
Nevertheless, the Ajeet II was built in 36 specimen (plus two prototypes and two static airframes) and proved to be a formidable air combat opponent at low to medium altitude. It could easily outmaneuver more powerful aircraft like the MiG-21, and the afterburner improved acceleration as well as rate of climb considerably. Its guided missile armament also meant that it could engage at longer ranges and did not have to rely on its cannons alone. The Ajeet II's ground attack capabilities were improved through a higher ordnance payload (3.000 lb vs. 2.000 lb of the Ajeet I).
But the light fighter concept was soon outdated. The Ajeet I was retired in 1991 and, unlike the IAF Gnats, never saw combat. The Ajeet II was kept in service only a little longer, and its retirement started in 1994. The remaining machines were concentrated in one single squadron, but this, too, was disbanded soon and switched to the MiG-29. The last Ajeet II flew in late 1997.
General characteristics: Crew: 1
Length: 10,54 m (34 ft 6 2/3 in)
Wingspan: 8,57 m (28 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.80 m (9 ft 3 in)
Wing area: 16.4 m² (177 ft²)
Aspect ratio: 3.56
Empty weight: 3,100 kg (6,830 lb)
Loaded weight: 5,440 kg (11,990 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 5,500 kg (12,100 lb)
Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Viper 601-22 turbojets, rated at 3,750 lbf (16.7 kN) dry
and 4,500 lbf (20.0 kN) with afterburner
Performance: Maximum speed: 1,152 km/h (622 knots, 716 mph) at sea level
Range: 1,150 km (621 nmi, 715 mi)
Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (13,720 m)
Wing loading: 331 kg/m² (67.8 lb/ft²)
Rate of clim: 12,150 ft/min (61.7 m/s)
Armament: 2× 30 mm ADEN cannons with 90 rounds each
Up to 3.000 lb (1.360 kg) of external stores on four underwing hardpoints
Dieser whiffige Gnat/Ajeet-Umbau ist aus der Not geboren, denn er basiert auf einem unvollständigen Matchbox-Bausatz ohne Haube. Es gibt zwar Vacu-Ersatz, aber die Gnat hat viel Potenzial, und Folland hatte ehedem viele Ideen im Köcher, bis hin zu Überschallvarianten und zuletzt sogar ein Design mit Schwenkflügeln(!). Zwei Triebwerke waren aber nie vorgesehen...
Was sich ändern ließ. Der Gnat-Trainer is heftig umgebaut, u.a. kamen zwei Triebwerke ins Heck, dieses wurde erweitert und der Rumpf mit zwei Plugs verlängert. Dazu kam eine neue Haube einer PZL Iskra und eine Radarnase, sowie komplett neue Tragflächen (von einer Revell G.91R). Sieht zwar auf den ersten Blick wie eine Ajeet/Gnat-Einsitzer aus, aber es ist kaum eine Stein auf dem anderen geblieben!
Indien bot sich aufgrund der spektakulären Anstriche und als letzter und größter Nutzer der Gnat an. Der Anstrich ist inspiriert von MiG-21MF "C2776" der IAF 26 Sqn "Warriors“ und “C2283” der 3 Sqn “Cobras”: ein grundsätzlich komplett graues Flugzeug, auf das Zusatztranung aufgerbracht wurde und mit spektakulären Farben am Leitwerk für schnelle Erkennbarkeit bei Trainings.
Grundfarbe ist Humbrol 127 (FS 36375), von oben wurde dann ein zweifarbiges Muster in Humbrol 108 und einem Mix aus 62 und 80 (Sand und Grasgrün) ergänzt. Sieht wild aus, ist aber offenbar höchst effektiv, wie die Flugbilder zeigen?
Das Modell wurde mit einem Tusche-Washing gealtert und mit Trockenbemalung leicht geshadet, um der Oberfläche mehr Struktur zu verleihen.
Ein kleines Projekt - im wahrsten Sinne des Wortes - wenn auch mit mehr Arbeit verbunden, als es auf den ersten Blick scheint.
Thema: What if? HAL Ajeet II; ‘S810’ der Indischen Luftwaffe No.2 Sq.; Ambala Air Base, 1988 (Gelesen 3561 mal)
