Slugfest apart, HAL key to future aviation projects

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 6

Even as the BJP and the Congress continue to spar over the role of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) in Rafale jet deal or ‘Make in India’, the Bengaluru-headquartered public sector undertaking holds key to India’s future aviation projects, be it fighter jets, helicopters or aero-engines.

On HAL’s success hinges New Delhi self-reliance targets in military aviation. Having multi-crore (see chart) turnover, HAL is a public listed company with the Ministry of Defence holding majority stake.

In case of fighter jets, the HAL is listed to make 123 Tejas planes; of these 20 are called the initial operational clearance (IOC) version and another 20 the FOC version. The IOC version is already being supplied to the IAF while the FOC version production would commence by this year-end. The remaining 83 are the Tejas Mark 1A, which will come with 43 improvements.

The future is the twin-engined Tejas Mark II that will have more powerful engine and some 201 of these are to be produced. Apart from this, the government has tasked the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) with developing an advanced medium combat aircraft (AMCA) and flying a prototype by 2020. The HAL is listed to be the lead integrator of the plane.

The big story is of helicopters: The armed forces have projected the need for some 800 light-utility, armed and attack versions of choppers.

The HAL produces some 22-24 advanced light helicopters (ALH), the Dhruv, annually and some 200 of these are flying; the requirement is huge. The MoD wants 90-100 copters per annum of Dhruv, light utility and light combat version. Some 100 copters are needed annually to meet the needs of the three services, Central Armed Police Forces, Coast Guard and smaller friendly nations. The production of the light combat helicopter (LCH) has commenced. The LCH is a 5.5-tonne copter powered by two Turbomeca Shakti engines. With a service ceiling of 6,500 metres (21,000 feet), it can go over the highest of the Himalayan passes. The Army needs 114 of these while the IAF needs 65.

The second success story is of the three-tonne class light utility helicopters (LUH). It made its maiden flight last month and will commence high-altitude cold-weather trails this month. The LUH has two components—HAL is designing, developing and building 187 and it is also to make another 197 Kamov-226T light helicopters with technology from Russia.

The HAL-produced LUH is a single-engine helicopter powered by the Safran HE Ardiden-1U engine. The HAL’s upcoming plant at Tumkuru, near Bengaluru, will start making 30 LUH annually from this year. It will ramp up production to 60 per annum in four years thence. The three services need 484 of the LUH-type copters.

India would need upto 6,000 helicopter engines over the next 15 to 20 years.