View source for Category:HAL HF-24 Marut

[[File:Shot 2025.05.23 00.49.28.jpg|350px|thumb|right|none|HAL HF-24 Marut portrayed in [[War Thunder (Britain)|War Thunder]].]]
The '''HAL HF-24 Marut''' ("Spirit of the Tempest") is an Indian jet fighter aircraft developed and manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) during the 1960s and early 70s. The Marut was designed by the German aeronautical engineer Kurt Tank, with the Project Engineer being George William Benjamin. The aircraft was the first Indian-developed jet fighter. On 17 June 1961, the type conducted its maiden flight; on 1 April 1967, the first production Marut was officially delivered to the IAF.

While the Marut had been envisioned as a supersonic-capable interceptor aircraft, it would never manage to exceed Mach 1. This limitation was principally due to the engines used, which in turn had been limited by various political and economic factors; multiple attempts to develop improved engines or to source alternative powerplants were fruitless.

The Marut's cost and lack of capability in comparison to contemporary aircraft were often criticized. Nevertheless, the Marut performed relatively well in combat, primarily as a fighter-bomber in the ground attack role. Most notably participating in the Battle of Longewala during the Indo-Pakistani war of 1971.

A total of 147 Maruts were manufactured, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) being the sole operator. By 1982, the Marut was becoming increasingly obsolescent, and was gradually phased out during the late 1980s.

The aircraft was named "Marut", after the storm gods of the Rig Veda, symbolising speed and power. This was part of a broader IAF tradition of Sanskrit-based naming for indigenously developed platforms.



This page contains all films, TV series, and video games that feature the HAL HF-24 Marut.

==See also==
*[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HAL_HF-24_Marut HAL HF-24 Marut at Wikipedia]

[[Category: Aircraft List]]
[[Category: HAL]]