In 1961, India launched the HAL Marut, becoming the first Asian country to create an indigenous fighter jet. This remarkable achievement was led by Kurt Tank, a former Nazi engineer. Despite challenges such as lack of infrastructure and delayed funding, the project succeeded under Tank's leadership. However, the Marut was hindered by underpowered engines and never achieved its intended supersonic speeds. Political decisions and alternative aircraft purchases eventually overshadowed the Marut's development. Although it served well in the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, the project was discontinued, and India's subsequent fighter jet efforts faced similar challenges.
1. In 1961, India launched its first indigenous fighter jet, the HAL Marut.
2. Kurt Tank, a talented Nazi engineer, designed the Focke-Wulf 190, a legendary fighter aircraft of its time.
3. After the fall of Nazi Germany, the Allied countries started poaching brilliant scientists and engineers, including Kurt Tank.
4. Tank fled to Argentina, where he designed a state-of-the-art aircraft, but was forced to flee again after the Argentinian President fell out of power.
5. Kurt Tank offered to develop a fighter jet for India, which was accepted by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
6. The Marut project was approved in 1956, with Prime Minister Nehru giving a speech in parliament supporting indigenous manufacturing of fighter jets.
7. HAL's design department only had 54 members, and no hangar space, machine shop, test equipment, or runway were available for the construction of prototypes.
8. Kurt Tank had to establish a contemporary industrial complex capable of developing the aircraft.
9. The Marut was planned to be powered by a pair of British-designed Bristol Siddeley Orpheus-12 afterburning engines.
10. However, the development of the engine was cancelled, and India was asked to underwrite the engine development costs of 1.5 million pounds.
11. The Indian government refused, and the engine was never developed, leaving the Marut without the engines it was designed around.
12. Egypt offered to help India develop the engine, but the project was cancelled after Egypt purchased Mig-21 from the Soviets.
13. The Marut was handed over to the air-force in 1967, but with its temporary engine, and the air-force reluctantly purchased 147 Maruts.
14. The Marut remained in the thick of action during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, strafing airfields, bombing ammunition dumps, and hitting tanks and artillery on the frontlines.
15. The Marut proved its mettle by playing a key role in the legendary battle of Longewala.
16. The Marut did not have advanced sighting systems, cutting-edge navigation systems, or powerful engines, but it did get the job done in the ground-attack role.
17. The Marut was withdrawn from service in 1982, and no further versions were made.
18. The skills and experience gained from the Marut project were lost due to lack of continuity, and India had to start from scratch again when developing the Tejas fighter jet.