The Hindu : National : HAL plans to build light combat copter, trainer aircraft

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 22, 2005

National

National

HAL plans to build light combat copter, trainer aircraft

By Our Special Correspondent

NASHIK, MARCH 21. Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) plans to develop two new aircraft, a light combat helicopter for anti-armour role and a twin-engine trainer aircraft to fit between the Advanced Jet Trainer, Hawk and the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Tejas.

While the light combat helicopter would be a derivative of the Advanced Light Helicopter, Dhruv, and its weaponisation, the twin-engine trainer would result out of the Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) — both designed and developed by the state-owned HAL. The proposed trainer would be more advanced than the Hawk.

The Indian Air Force is acquiring 66 Hawks — 24 from Britain and 42 built by HAL at home. About 170 test flights of the IJT have been completed and the HAL expects its certification in two years. The induction of both the aircraft, if approved by the IAF, could take place in eight to nine years with the technology demonstrator taking off in just over three years, said the HAL chairman, A.K. Baweja.

This was because HAL not only had the designing experience but also the facilities and it could bring down significantly the stage cycle, Mr. Baweja said. He was talking to reporters after the ceremony handing over to the Indian Air Force the first batch of the multi-role fighter, Sukhoi-30 MKI at the Nashik Division of HAL.

The HAL has embarked on a plan to take up serial production of eight Tejas. The serial production would be concurrent with ongoing efforts to build three more Tejas. Two technology demonstration LCAs and one prototype were already in use and three more prototypes would be added to increase the flying rate of the Tejas and speed up its certification. Two naval variants were also on the cards. The serial production programme would run concurrently with this.

Earlier, Wing Commanders Sandeep Singh and George Thomas and their co-pilots took off in two Su-30 MKIs, as the specially detailed Maharashtra police band played its own composition, Priyadarshini, to mark the induction of the aircraft in their `Rhino' Squadron 30 of the IAF. The IAF has 50 Russian built Su30 MKI in its inventory. HAL is expected to deliver another 138 aircraft over the next 13 years.

Accepting the aircraft from its makers, the Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi said by jointly scripting the success story of the Su-30 MKI, India had transited from being a mere customer to co-developer of the aircraft.

To suit the requirement of the IAF, a fusion of the Russian platform with western avionics from diverse countries, including Israel, France, U.K. and South Africa was realised. The supersonic fighter had some key avionics designed and developed by India. These included mission computer, display processor, radar computer, and radar warning receiver, communication system and, radio altimeter. Air Chief Marshal Tyagi said the warplane tremendously increased the IAF's war fighting capability.

Later, he told reporters that besides the Su-30 MKIs and the Hawks, the IAF needed 128 more aircraft to maintain the necessary force level. Four aircraft, including the U.S. F-16, Mirage 2000, Griffen and MiG 29 were being considered. HAL officials here said they had the capability to embark upon the production of F-16s if "our customer so desired."

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