BUILDING THE ORDER BOOK
Geopolitics|November 2020
The orderbooks for LCA, LCH, HTT-40 and LUH are poised for robust growth at HAL, with the DPSU also getting ready to come up with a whole gamut of world-class products in the new decade, explains DHIRENDER JAMWAL
DHIRENDER JAMWAL
BUILDING THE ORDER BOOK
It has been a quick turnaround in the fortunes of India’s only military aircraft manufacturing and design organisation, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Only a few years, ago, HAL had lost or decided not to proceed with key aircraft programmes such as the manufacture of Dassault Rafale in India (as part of the original MMRCA contract) in addition to deciding to cancel partnerships with Russia for Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA) and PAK-FA (Sukhoi Su-50). It has taken some time, but HAL now has a host of indigenously designed and developed fighter aircraft, helicopters and basic trainer aircraft, that will drive its growth in the future.

Securing a bright future

The Government of India has taken a number of steps to ensure that HAL, has its order books full. The main programmes in the coming years are mainly related to manufacture of 83 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) MK- 1A, 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH) and 106 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft for which Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approval has been obtained and orders are expected shortly.

The contract for 83 Tejas Mk 1As (73 single seaters and 10 twin-seaters) will be worth more than US$5 billion and will be India’s largest order for an indigenous aircraft. The next new HAL product due to enter production is the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) with 15 Limited Series Production (LSP) examples to be built. The HTT-40 programme will also be an important due to potential additional orders in the years to come. In August, the DAC approved procurement of 106 Basic Trainer Aircraft. Post Certification 70 Basic Trainer Aircraft will be initially procured from HAL and balance 36 after operationalisation of HTT-40 fleet in IAF. Prototypes and certification process is presently underway.

This story is from the November 2020 edition of Geopolitics.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2020 edition of Geopolitics.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM GEOPOLITICSView All
ENHANCING CRUISE MISSILE CAPABILITY
Geopolitics

ENHANCING CRUISE MISSILE CAPABILITY

India’s cruise missile capability has largely evolved as a credible conventional level deterrence since the turn of the new millennium. But much more needs to be done, writes AMARTYA SINHA

time-read
10 mins  |
April 2024
BOOSTING DEFENCE EXPORTS
Geopolitics

BOOSTING DEFENCE EXPORTS

Earlier, India was known to be an arms importer. But today, the country has come out of its comfort zone and found a place in the list of top-25 arms exporter nations argues AMARTYA SINHA

time-read
10 mins  |
April 2024
ENHANCING INDIA'S AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES
Geopolitics

ENHANCING INDIA'S AIRBORNE SURVEILLANCE CAPABILITIES

Project NETRA represents a proactive initiative by ISRO to safeguard India's interests in space by mitigating the risks posed by space debris and other hazards, says GIRISH LINGANNA

time-read
8 mins  |
April 2024
THE HIMALAYAN TRIANGLE: WHY INDIA KEEPS BHUTAN SAFE FROM CHINA
Geopolitics

THE HIMALAYAN TRIANGLE: WHY INDIA KEEPS BHUTAN SAFE FROM CHINA

India, given its special relationship with Bhutan, has been very wary about the possibility of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the signing of a boundary agreement between Bhutan and China, writes SIMRAN SODHI

time-read
10 mins  |
April 2024
TROOST, DESAI AND SANCTIONS
Geopolitics

TROOST, DESAI AND SANCTIONS

The Western sanctions against companies and individuals doing business with Russia have produced a complex set of reactions with lobbyists and shell companies working overtime to beat the rap. A GEOPOLITICS Bureau report

time-read
5 mins  |
April 2024
INDIA EXPANDS ITS SPR
Geopolitics

INDIA EXPANDS ITS SPR

India is the world’s third-biggest oil importer and consumer. As the country’s economy continues to grow, ensuring a stable and secure supply of petroleum products has become a top priority. India plans to build its first privately managed strategic petroleum reserve (SPR) by 2029-30, granting the operator the freedom to trade all of the stored oil according to Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL)

time-read
3 mins  |
April 2024
LCA TEJAS MARK-IA MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT
Geopolitics

LCA TEJAS MARK-IA MAKES MAIDEN FLIGHT

The first aircraft LA5033 of the Tejas Mark-1A series successfully soared in the sky after taking off from the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) facility in Bengaluru on March 28, the public sector aerospace and defence company said.

time-read
1 min  |
April 2024
Future Of Space Militarization
Geopolitics

Future Of Space Militarization

GIRISH LINGANNA explains how the peaceful 'Space Race' has now been turned into Man's 'War-Fighting Domain'

time-read
10+ mins  |
March 2024
HOME MINISTRY TOM TOM'S DRUG SEIZURE RECORD
Geopolitics

HOME MINISTRY TOM TOM'S DRUG SEIZURE RECORD

The Union Home Ministry highlighted the Modi government’s efforts in combating the drug menace.

time-read
1 min  |
March 2024
DRDO SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT TESTS VSHORADS
Geopolitics

DRDO SUCCESSFULLY FLIGHT TESTS VSHORADS

DRDO conducted two successful flight tests of the Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missile on Feb 28th and 29th from a ground-based portable launcher off the coast of Odisha from Integrated Test Range, Chandipur.

time-read
1 min  |
March 2024