India's Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, from 1999, was developing HAL HJT-36 Sitara, a subsonic intermediate jet trainer aircraft for the Indian Air Force to replace the ageing HAL HJT-16 Kiran.The aircraft features a FADEC-controlled NPO Saturn AL-55I with a thrust of 17.3 kN, providing a high thrust-to-weight ratio with optimised thrust management.

[1] The prototype aircraft was initially powered by a SNECMA Turbomeca Larzac 04-H-20 non-afterburning turbofan developing 14.12 kN of thrust.

[3] In April 2005, the Larzac engine was to be replaced by NPO Saturn AL-55I (16.9 kN) to meet training requirements.

The AL-55I engine would be a Joint Venture of HAL and NPO Saturn and the deal for the development of the same was signed with Rosoboronexport in August.

The increase of TTL was important as ASQR projected a "utilisation rate" of 30 hrs/month per aircraft which meant the engines needed to be replaced every 10 months.