HAL will lease 12 HJT-36 IJT “Yashas” Stage-II aircraft to the Indian Air Force for evaluation, marking a new phase in the indigenous trainer’s revival, according to reports published on September 22, 2025. The jet, rebranded from Sitara to Yashas at Aero India in Bengaluru in February 2025 after extensive fixes to spin and departure characteristics, is intended for Stage-II training and also offers a light-attack capability with up to 1,000 kg payload. Earlier in 2025, the Air Force had asked to lease four upgraded aircraft drawn from a batch of 12 limited-series production jets built under a 2006 order, featuring a new glass cockpit, indigenous avionics, and the AL-55I engine. The move to evaluate a 12-aircraft fleet aligns with plans to replace ageing HJT-16 Kiran trainers, with a decision on full-scale procurement anticipated around 2030.