BUILDING THE ORDER BOOK

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

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.