HF-24 Marut

The HF‑24 Marut was India’s first indigenous combat aircraft, conceived in the early 1960s and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Designed by German engineer Kurt Tank, the Marut project began after a 1961 agreement between the Indian Ministry of Defence and the German Aeronautical Research Institute. The prototype flew on 17 September 1961 from HAL’s Bangalore facility, and after a series of trials the aircraft entered service with the Indian Air Force in 1969. Powered initially by a single Bristol Siddeley Orpheus turbo‑jet, later versions employed the more powerful, domestically produced GE‑V12 after‑burner engine, granting a top speed of around Mach 0.9, a service ceiling of 45 000 feet, and a payload capacity of 2 000 kg for rockets, bombs or air‑to‑air missiles. Its all‑metal low‑wing monoplane design featured a reinforced fuselage, hydraulically actuated flaps, and a side‑by‑side cockpit with dual controls. Although limited by engine performance, the Marut demonstrated India’s capability to design, produce and maintain a supersonic‑capable fighter without foreign dependence. It saw combat during the 1971 Indo‑Pak war, where its ground‑attack role proved valuable, cementing its place as a milestone in Indian aviation history.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification