More than 150 Indian fighters have crashed in the last decade

The Intermediate Jet Trainer (ITJ) has been locally developed by the country's sole aircraft manufacturer.

India's air chief says the aircraft will be used as the base trainer by his air force, from which pilots can graduate to an advanced jet trainer.

India has been looking to buy an advanced jet trainer for more than a decade to help pilots make the transition from subsonic to supersonic aircraft.

The head of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which built the new trainer, said his company plans to manufacture 200-250 trainers.

The Kiran aircraft is a decade behind in technology HAL Chairman NR Mohanty

Until now, Indian Air Force pilots were trained on the propeller-driven Kiran trainer aircraft.

"There was an urgent need to replace Kiran and the ITJ has filled that void," HAL Chairman NR Mohanty told reporters in the southern city of Bangalore.

He said the new aircraft would be more fuel efficient than the Kiran.

It has been developed at a cost of 1.8 billion rupees ($38m).

Hawk deal

The new trainer is expected to help the air force cope with its training crisis until the advanced jet trainer deal comes through.

More than 150 Indian fighter planes have crashed in the past 10 years, with experts blaming a lack of training facilities and poor maintenance.

India has plans to buy 66 advanced trainers at an estimated cost of $1.6bn.

Britain has been trying to persuade India to buy its Hawk trainer and appears to be a strong favourite to win the contract.

But France and the Czech Republic are also hopeful.

While the French are offering India the Alphajet, the Czechs have made a last minute entry by putting its L-159B trainer on the table.