HAL is engaged in the design, development, manufacture, repair, overhaul, and upgrade and servicing of a wide range of aircraft, helicopters, aero-engines, avionics, accessories and aerospace structures, says R MADHAVAN, Chairman and Managing Director, HAL in this conversation with Geopolitics.
What are the aerospace projects underway at HAL?
The major development programmes at HAL are:
Rotary Wing
a) Light Combat Helicopter (LCH): LCH is a twin-engine helicopter being developed to meet the need of combat helicopters for the IAF and the Indian Army. A total of four TD helicopters are built. The IOC for LCH was accorded on August 26, 2017 in the presence of the Defence Minister. The production activities were launched on this occasion. HAL has received RFP for acquisition of 15 LCH and the proposal has been submitted to MoD.
b) Light Utility Helicopter (LUH): The LUH is a single engine, 3-Tonne weight class helicopter having Glass Cockpit with Multi-Function Displays. The first technical flight of LUH PT-1 was successfully conducted on September 6, 2016.
Two prototypes are currently under flight testing.
Fixed Wing
c) Basic Turboprop Trainer Aircraft (HTT-40): HTT-40 is a Basic Trainer aircraft being indigenously designed and developed by HAL. The programme has been taken up with internal funding. The maiden flight of the aircraft was successfully carried out on May 31, 2016 and inaugural flight in the presence of the Defence Minister was held on June 17, 2016. Currently, two prototypes of the aircraft are under flight testing.
d) LCA Mk 1A: HAL has proposed an improved version of LCA (i.e. LCA Mk1A) with enhanced capabilities like AESA Radar, BVR Missile, SelfProtection Jammer (SPJ) and Air to Air Refuelling (AAR), designated as LCA Mk1A, for which development activities are under progress. HAL received RFP for acquisition of 83 LCA Mk1A and proposal has been submitted to MoD.
UAV
This story is from the October 2018 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 2018 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
India's space economy set to soar
India's burgeoning space economy could see a substantial increase in its global share by 2040. At present, India's space sector contributes a modest $8 billion to the overall cake. However, the government has set its sights on an ambitious target, aiming for a five-fold surge in India's share of the global space economy.
CRITICAL NEED TO BOOST CONVENTIONAL SUBMARINE FLEET
VENUGOPAL MENON explains why India cannot afford to view the critical deficiency in Submarine force levels lightly
BEEFING UP OUR SUBMARINE FLEET
In the last week of March, the Indian Navy displayed its submarine prowess. Eight of its submarines operated together in the Western Indian Ocean Region, a first in three decades, and one of its Scorpene submarines sailed to the Andaman Nicobar Islands, overlooking the Malacca Strait, a critical choke point for China. But how is the comparison with China? RITU SHARMA reports
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
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
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
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
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
THE KOREA-GATE
India attaches great importance to “three principles of inclusiveness, trust and reciprocity’” for creating the basis for working more closely with like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific such as the Republic of Korea (ROK), better known as South Korea for “a free, peaceful and prosperous region”. Prakash Nanda dissects the relationship and the way ahead
Pushpak RLV-TD successfully lands autonomously
ISRO achieved another significant milestone in reusable launch vehicle (RLV) technology with the successful landing of Pushpak (RLV-TD), the winged vehicle, autonomously on the runway.
