Getting airborne from AFS Hakimpet. First flown on Sept. 4, 1964, the Kiran was designed and built by HAL as a basic jet trainer. The first Kiran Mk.Is with the RR Viper 11 turbojet were inducted in the IAF in March 1968, equipping the Flying Instructors School (FIS) at Tambaram. Production was switched to the Mk.IA with hardpoints under the wings.

Attractive red-tailed Kiran from INAS 551 "Phantoms" leading the formation for review by Smt. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, President of India and Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces during President's Fleet Review 2011. These aircraft are used to train naval aviators. The Indian Navy once fielded the Sagar Pawan Aerobatic Team (SPAT) with its dark blue and white livery on the Kiran.