HAL displayed indigenously produced systems during PM visit
The engine of Light Combat Aircraft ‘Tejas’ twin-seater aircraft will be upgraded to GE 414 Engine for LCA Mk II which will be manufactured in India with 80% Transfer of Technology arrangement under a MoU with GE Engines.
This will be the first time that an engine of this class will be produced in India with Transfer of technology that is likely to bridge the technology gap that exists currently in the aero engine domain of the country.
Engineers at Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the engine upgrading plans for the aircraft which is currently powered by GE 404.
The Prime Minister visited HAL in Bengaluru on 25 Nov and took a sortie in Tejas, an indigenously designed and developed fighter aircraft. He also visited the LCA Tejas Final Assembly and discussed capabilities of the lightweight, all-weather multi-role aircraft.
Tejas has been operationally deployed with the Indian Air Force and will be the mainstay of the fighter fleet in years to come. The aircraft is capable of undertaking offensive air support role as well as ground attach roles and is quite superior to its contemporaries.
HAL has established two production lines of LCA Tejas at Bengaluru, which can produce up to 16 aircraft per year.
Further, an additional production line is being established at HAL, Nasik, to take the production rate beyond 24 aircraft from 2024-25 onwards.
HAL is planning to advance the deliveries of current and future order of LCA Tejas to its customers.
The Prime Minister was also briefed about the technology intensive work being done at HAL towards realising the vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. He was apprised about the initiatives being taken by HAL towards ramping capacities and capabilities.
HAL had displayed various indigenously developed and produced systems including the Digital flight control computer (DFCC) and Open architecture computer (OAC) with the support of DRDO, DPSU’s and Private industry along with HAL.
It was further explained that Flight controls, Fuel systems, Hydraulics, Air-conditioning, Mission and display systems have also been indigenised.
The Prime Minister was informed that HAL is striving to take the indigenous content of the aircraft beyond 70% in the next 3-4 years under the indigenization drive as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision and take India towards self-reliance into defence and aerospace.
He was also briefed about the progress on LCA MK1A programme. The production of fighter aircraft against 83 Mk1A order concurrent with its design and development is under progress at HAL. Mk1A variant will be a more lethal aircraft with capabilities such as AESA Radar, BVR Missile capability, EW suite, advance avionics, and maintenance improvements. The deliveries of MK1A aircraft are planned from Feb 2024 onwards to the Indian Air Force.
Various indigenous helicopters such as Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) Prachand, Advanced Light Helicopter-WSI Rudra and Light Utility Helicopters were also showcased to the Prime Minister.
The electronic warfare system, armament and troop-carrying capability of Rudra (ALH MkIV) helicopter was also showcased. The Prime Minister was briefed on the slew capability of gun to the target as demanded by the pilots, and he was briefed how the same is achieved either through the electro optical pod or pilot helmet mounted sighting system. Fiinews.com
