@PARIKRAMA @MilSpec met a group captain from the IAF while traveling to my native last night. He was from the maintenance command. He kept saying, our metallurgical expertise is rubbish. Till we get that in place, we can develop all the designs in the world but not the engine and the major components. How true is this? And are we doing anything for solving this?
Partially true.. We are making slow progress .. of course you require a good budget to first enable research and also hi tech place to conduct such researches... Both of which is very limited in India as of now...
An article in 2003 caused quite a small stir among def followers .. it was in Hindu
The Hindu : An 'Indian' jet engine still a dream
An 'Indian' jet engine — still a dream
Monday, Nov 17, 2003
Excerpts
Very few institutions of higher education in India have an aerospace department that has aero engine study as part of the syllabus; almost none have an exclusive optional subject such as aero engine technology. Decades ago, the steel industry came up in India to lay a strong foundation near the iron ore mines. Aluminium is abundant but has been thought of mainly as an airframe material. Though alchemy is mentioned in mythology, materials to make an aero engine have not attracted much attention in India.
Metallurgy and material science are the core of aero engine technology. The higher the temperature that can be generated and handled in a jet engine combustion chamber, the higher is the thrust. The materials used need to withstand the higher temperature. Material science leads the technology, now.
Till the LCA programme started making news and was given a thrust, hardly any private entrepreneur had contributed to aviation technology in India. Even now, very few contribute to the aero engine development. The industry needs large investment and a long gestation period. The aerospace industry did not get support from the private sector. Aero modelling was encouraged but no supportive arm was extended to the engine.
But active involvement by academicians, institutions, research and development establishments and the Government has been conspicuous by its absence for aerospace programmes. We still look at modern aircraft with sophisticated engines in awe.
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The metallurgy part focus is mainly on high strength materials and super alloys along with composites which are used in the engines of a fighter jet. They have to withstand high temperature ranges while maintaining speed, maneuverability, gravitational impact, etc etc. Modern fighter aircraft are expected to feature an option in the engine which allows to operate in either high speed mode or look for better efficiency to increase loitering time with loads. On top the concept of super cruise has made the requirements tougher..
Some efforts are made like
1. HAL and BHEL JV plan.
The idea is set up a joint venture to design, develop and manufacture gas turbines for a variety of civilian and military applications. It is also planned to involve private industrial enterprises with experience in developing engines in the venture. Both HAL and BHEL have expertise in licence producing gas turbines of a variety of specifications and fusing their expertise with the experience that DRDO has acquired while developing Kaveri engine could be a veritable “force multiplier” to move ahead with the development of advanced aero engine technologies.
2. HAL along with the British engine maker Rolls-Royce has set up a joint venture facility named International Aerospace Manufacturing Private Ltd (IAMPL) at Bangalore for the production of civil aircraft engines and subsystems. HAL has been building Rolls-Royce engines under licence for India’s Jaguar fighter and the Hawk Advanced jet trainer fleet. Rolls-Royce whose engines propel Airbus and Boeing civilian jets has been sourcing ring forgings from HAL for its civilian engines since 2003. “The state of the art facility in Bangalore will produce components for the technologically advanced Trent family of civil aero engines as well as for a number of marine and energy gas turbines.
3. HAL and Honeywell have signed an agreement under which HAL will manufacture Honeywell TPE 331 engine components and kits. The TPE-331 engine family represents the most fuel efficient and reliable turboprop engine and will be the first aerospace engine to be manufactured in India for the world wide market. TPE 331 powers the Dornier transport aircraft being manufactured by HAL. The engine division of HAL undertakes repair and overhaul of various aero engines operated by defence forces, coast guard, civilian enterprises and government organisations. The engine division of HAL is also involved in the development and certification of Kaveri engine.
4. HAL has received responses from eight international engine manufacturers for its Request for Proposal (RFP) for the power plant that would go into the proposed Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) to be built by a consortium led by HAL and NAL. For, the design of the aircraft can be frozen only after finalizing the engine that would be fuel efficient and affordable to maintain. The vendor finally chosen to supply the engine will be required to transfer the critical technologies to India to help the country create a manufacturing base for aero engines. However advanced countries do not easily part with the critical engine technology. Only a large and alluring commercial deal could nudge them to transfer the technology.
5. According to K.Tamilamani, Director General (Aeronautical Systems) of DRDO, there is a need for the creation of an autonomous body for design, development, testing and production of aero engines of varying specifications. The amalgamation of the expertise and competence available in both the public and private sectors of the country should be fused to create a high tech platform for developing aero engines. Indeed resources available in private companies such as Kirloskar, L&T and Godrej could be harnessed for giving a quickening impetus to build a vibrant technological base for realizing aero engines of varying thrust ranges.
(Points sourced from Strategic Affairs
