Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Produces Over 2000 Indigenized Items

[Hindustani78]

Media Releases

Bengaluru, April 2, 2015:

HAL recorded the highest ever turnover of Rs. 15,480 crores (provisional) for the financial year 2014-15 as against Rs. 15,128 crores achieved in FY 2013-14. “Our performance is in line with the MoU signed with the Ministry of Defence and we expect `Excellent’ rating for FY 2014-15. The CAPEX target of Rs. 900 crores has been achieved and we are happy that on the indigenization front over 2000 items were produced resulting in saving to the tune of Rs. 100 crores,” said Mr. T. Suvarna Raju, CMD, HAL. The operating profit for the year was at Rs. 1,560 crores against Rs. 1,551 crores in 2013-14.

As part of Design and Development activities so far 384 flight have been completed on LCH. HAL Board has approved production of 4th technology demonstrator to expedite the process of Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) of LCH. Regarding LUH, Ground Test Vehicle (GTV) test was successfully carried out recently. Also, indigenously designed and developed mini UAV had its first flight during the year.

The commercial negotiation progressed with internal and bilateral meetings with Russian participation for the FGFA program during FY 2014-15. IJT surpassed the milestone of cumulative 1000 sorties with 1004 flights completed so far.

Detailed design, jig fabrication and commissioning have been completed for HAL Basic Turboprop Trainer (HTT-40) and assembly activities have been initiated. Indigenous LCA has so far completed 2871 flights out of which 364 were carried out during 2014-15 for IAF variant. For naval variant of LCA, 43 flights have been completed and 24 flights were done in FY 2014-15. The critical design review for Mirage 2000 upgrade is also completed. Regarding Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine-25 (HTFE-25), detail design of the core engine is completed and assembly tools and required test setup /test bed is under progress. The medium thrust class engine finds wide application in military trainer aircraft, smaller regional jet and unmanned applications.

Some of the other highlights of the year included handing over of the first ROH SU-30 MKI aircraft and first series production of indigenously developed Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) to IAF by the Defence Minister, receiving order for 14 Do-228 aircraft for IAF and production of Hawk aircraft.

As part of R&D policy, a society has been registered for formation of Corporate Meta-university for industry focused research relating to aeronautical sector in all disciplines and inter-disciplinary areas of technologies. During the year 2014-15, 814 patent applications were filed taking the total to 1094 till Mar 31, 2015.

HAL took several initiatives in various other areas such as new product development (supply of rolled rings to Siemens, Canada), customer support, quality, out-sourcing and vendor development, offsets, marketing, IT, HR and CSR during 2014-15.

HAL’s indigenous products enthralled visitors with their flying and static display during the recently concluded 10th edition of Aero India from February 18-22, 2015. The Company’s display was themed around “Evolution of HAL as a centre of excellence in Aviation R&D and Technology over 75 years of its existence”.

 

[Hindustani78]

HAL’s operations to be expanded: Parrikar | Business Line
PTI

Kanpur, Apr 8:
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said the operations of the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) would be expanded to compete with global aerospace and defence equipment manufacturing companies.

He inspected the defence equipment manufacturing companies here and discussed with the units’ officials the ways to increase quality and quantity of their products.

“We want to expand HAL so that it can take on the global defence equipment manufacturers. We’ll be meeting with the company’s officials and discuss with them issues related to technology, quality and production,” the minister said.

He said the government would endeavour to give the city — which has five ordnance factories, a HAL unit and an IIT — “the place it deserved in the defence industry”.

The Minister said there was no plan to privatise the Kanpur—based defence companies.

“The government, rather, was devising ways to improve their efficiency and output.”

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has been asked to collaborate with the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) to conduct joint research programmes to help meet the country’s defence needs, he added.

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/596610/hal-up-production-invest-rs.html

Bengaluru, Feb 16, 2017, DHNS
Path ahead: Focus on light combat aircraft, choppers, unmanned aerial vehicles & upgrades

Ramping up production of fighter aircraft, helicopters and UAVs, aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is gearing up for an overall investment of Rs 17,500 crore in the next five years.

Responding to media queries at the Aero India 2017 here, HAL chairman and managing director T Suvarna Raju said the company may go in for bank loans to fund the projects.

Here’s his update on projects undertaken by HAL, both indigenously and in collaboration with foreign partners.

Sukhoi-30MKI

HAL supplied 183 Sukhoi-MKI multi-role fighter aircraft to the IAF till January 2017. The remaining aircraft, out of an order for 222 planes, would be delivered by 2019-20.

As the lead agency for the aircraft’s upgrade, HAL will ink contracts with the Sukhoi Design Bureau for a two-phase upgrade. The first phase will start in 90 days, Raju said.

LCA Tejas

Three aircraft were delivered to IAF, which operationalised its first squadron, “Flying Daggers”. The delivery of all the 40 LCA Mk-1 aircraft will be completed by 2019-20.

LCA Mk1A

The project will go on an overdrive to cater to IAF’s procurement of 83 LCA Mk1A aircraft with enhanced capabilities of AESA Radar, BVR missile, self-protection jammer and air-to-air refuelling.

The production will be increased from the current eight per year to 16 a year with increased stress on outsourcing, said Raju. “The trials for LCA Mk1A will be completed by 2018.”

ALH Dhruvs

On the Advanced Light Helicopter (Dhruv), Raju said HAL has built 231 copters till January 2017. “We have concluded negotiations for 73 more ALHs to the services. The contract will be signed shortly.”

Dornier aircraft

The defence PSU has also produced 135 Dornier-228 aircraft. The Navy has placed orders for 12 more. The task will be completed by 2019-20.

Light Utility Helicopter

The Light Utility Helicopter (LUH), which had its maiden flight in September 2016 and flew again at the airshow inaugural, is expected to complete the certification process by 2018. Deliveries could begin by 2019-20.

Light Combat Helicopter

The Defence Acquisition Council, he said, has cleared procurement of 15 Light Combat Helicopters (LCH). Ten of these are for IAF and five for the Army. HAL is also producing 20 Cheetal helicopters for the Army and 10 more are in the pipeline for IAF.

Besides, HAL will undertake upgrades of 61 Jaguars and 51 Mirage fighter aircraft.

Basic trainer

On the Hindustan Turboprop Trainer (HTT), Raju said the company expected orders for 106 aircraft, to be used for basic training, aerobatics, instrument flying and close-formation flights.

Mini UAVs

Progressing on the Mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) front, HAL has developed an 80-kg product with a 15-km day/night range capability. “It is now production-ready for the police, paramilitary services and armed forces,” informed Raju.

HAL is investing Rs 210 crore on Rustom-2 with Aeronautical Defence Establishment as partner. It has already partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur to develop a rotary UAV. “Our plan is to get into the 50, 200 and 500 kg class UAVs.”

Highest turnover

HAL has notched up its highest ever turnover of Rs 16,736 crore for 2015-16, a 7.14% growth over the previous year. “Profit before tax was Rs 3,288 crore. The current year’s target is Rs 17,100 crore. Our sales till January stood at Rs 10,086 crore,” the CMD informed.

 

[ranadd]

Time to split the organization into focused groups. Enough of this "sambhar"

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/596971/hal-chief-flies-htt-40.html

HAL chief flies HTT-40, Hawk-i; terms it lifetime experience
Feb 18, 2017, Bengaluru, DHNS

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director T Suvarna Raju, in an unprecedented move, on Friday flew the Hawk-i, an upgrade of the Advanced Jet Trainer, Hawk and followed it up with another flight of the HAL’s basic trainer, HTT-40.

Later, he told journalists at the Aero India show that the flight was a life-time experience. The HAL had taken up the Hawk upgrade indigenously taking into account Indian Air Force’s (IAF) future requirements. The flight, he said, gave him a first-hand feel of the upgraded systems. The Hawk-i was piloted by Wg Cdr Pratyush Awasti.

The upgraded Hawk is equipped with indigenous Mission Computer in dual redundant configuration, Embedded Virtual Training System (EVTS), Softnet Radio and Cockpit Human Machine Interface (HMI).

Raju said the HAL spent about Rs 200 crore to develop the Hawk-i. It would be offered to the IAF soon. Incidentally, BAe Systems has showcased the Advanced Hawk at the airshow. India is currently the largest operator of the Hawks with 123 aircraft.

HTT-40 production

Raju indicated that the limited series production of the HTT-40 basic trainer could begin by the end of next year. The Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) from the IAF will be sought next year. The basic trainer has made many flying displays at the ongoing airshow. It was rolled out from the HAL on January 26, recording its maiden flight on February 1. The IAF currently requires 106 basic trainers. HTT-40 is powered by a 1,100 HP (820 KW) turboprop engine.

In 2015, the Defence Ministry had announced its decision to opt for 68 HTT-40 trainers and 38 Pilatus PC-7 trainers. The HAL finds the project commercially viable.

HAL chair at IISc soon

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) will soon have a HAL chair in its Aerospace Engineering Department with a corpus fund of Rs 1.5 crore.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and the IISC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in this regard on Friday. The chair will be headed by an IISc faculty member for three years.

With the aim of developing and promoting breakthrough technologies, the chair will focus on as many as 137 areas of research and development (R&D), including rotor dynamics, shock and vibration analysis, heat transfer analysis, nano technology and others.

The MoU also seeks to establish a long term mutually beneficial relationship between the HAL and the IISc for academic and research based institutions.

IISc director Anurag Kumar, registrar V Rajarajan and HAL Rotor Wing Research & Development Centre Executor Director Vijay Kumar were present.

 

[Hindustani78]

A Hindustan Aeronautics Limited-designed and developed Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 HTT-40 trainer aircraft. File | Photo Credit: The Hindu

https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/hal-trainer-clears-crucial-spin-test/article25457368.ece

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited said it expected production clearance for the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 by the end of this year.

Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40, the indigenously-built basic trainer aircraft, on Friday cleared a challenging milestone — its first spin test — Hindustan Aeronautics Limited said.

A few more tests are due to follow before the aircraft can get its operational certification, likely in mid-2019, according to a person familiar with the programme.

Defence Acquisition Council approval

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited said it expected production clearance for the Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 by the end of this year. The Defence Acquisition Council has approved buying of 70 HAL-built basic trainers for the Indian Air Force. The Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40, when acquired, will join the 75 PC-7 Mark II trainers that are already in service.

Congratulating the design and project team, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Chairman and Managing Director R. Madhavan said, “The successful start of the spin testing gives a boost to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and also restores [its] credibility in successfully designing a spin-worthy aircraft.”

Around 1.30 p.m., test pilots Group Captain (retd) K.K.Venugopal, and Group Captain S. Chaki (retd) flew the aircraft and achieved the feat.

The spin test is the most crucial phase in developing a safe and airworthy aircraft, according to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. Novice military pilots begin their flying careers with a basic trainer and then graduate on to fighters and transport planes.

“This is a big boost [for the team]. We got the spin right after two generations, the last was in the 1980s for the Kiran,” said the official associated with trainer development.

A statement said, “Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 began the most awaited phase of the ‘spin test’ by successfully entering into a two-turn spin and subsequently recovering with the appropriate controls.”

Arup Chatterjee, Director (Engg and R&D) said the spin trial met the test points of PSQR or `preliminary specifications qualitative requirements'; the completion of the spin test is the last milestone to be cleared before the aircraft enters service.

The first spin test has been met five years since Hindustan Aeronautics Limited took up the basic trainer project design in August 2013 at its own expense of around ₹350 crore. It has moved at a "breakneck speed" and already cleared the prior important stage of stall testing.

The development comes as a morale booster to the Republic of State-owned defence aircraft manufacturer which has braved negative sentiment in recent months for being left out of the Indian Air Force's much-debated Rafale fighters acquisition programme.

Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40, too, had been earlier rejected by the Indian Air Force which opted for the improted PC-7 Mark II trainers.

Over the past months, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) had conducted extensive wind tunnel tests and analysed mathematical models to arrive at the requirements of the spin test. "The entire study is put to test during those first few moments of spin testing," it said.