One important aerodynamic reality that needs to be remembered is:
Larger wings move more air, so a bird or plane with a large wing area relative to its mass (low wing loading) will have more lift at any given speed. Therefore, a plane with lower wing loading will be able to take off and land at a lower speed (or be able to take off with a greater load)
If we check Gripen C or D which uses the same power plant as Hurjet, albeit 500lbf more thrust version in AB mode, it manages nearly double usable payload capacity and much higher MTOW with 2Mach top speed. It has a delta wing configuration, which as well as making the plane stealthier, increases it’s lift performance and MTOW and hence usable payload capacity. That is why Gripen can land on and take off from relatively shorter highways when it is required from it.
Hurjet is a trainer jet aircraft and was essentially designed to be for that purpose. Unless drastic design alterations are made to the airframe we shouldn’t expect a Gripen like performance from this bird.
We don’t know how much designers of the airframe of Hurjet have calculated in to it’s STOL performance. But what we can see is a low wing area plane that has been compromised for high manoeuvrability and relatively forgiving flight characteristics that will allow trainee pilots to hone their flight skills.
This will allow it to be used for acrobatics too.
But with a good Aesa radar and stand-off smart missiles, it can be a very potent addition to the airforce as a BVR fighter, especially when you consider it’s very low cost per flight hour.
A Hurjet that will be carrier operable will have to have more lift. To achieve this, a higher wing area and also a higher thrust engine may be needed.
As it is, it may take off from a ski lift. But it‘s payload and operational radius may be negatively affected.
However a Hurjet modified to be Carrier Operable (If we are going to have a Carrier), will add so much to the power projection of the fleet that it is a no brainier in spite of the cost it will incur. It will increase the defence of the fleet and the ships that are sailing with it by many folds. Also providing assault capability from air to land and other surface targets which is invaluable. But it has to be remembered that a carrier operable Hurjet will be very different .