27 airframes of Tejas Mk1A jets ready, but 1-2 issues yet to be fixed; delivery of HTT-40 aircraft & Dhruv NG helicopter a milestone for all of us: HAL CMD Ravi K
BENGALURU: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) chairman and managing director Ravi K on Thursday said the aerospace organisation has already made ready “27 airframes of advanced Tejas Mk1A (of the total 180), but there are one or two issues that are leading to delays in the delivery of the first batch of the advanced combat aircraft to the Indian Air Force”.Speaking to TOI in an interview at HAL’s biggest fighter jet complex in Bengaluru, Ravi K said, “We have received 10 engines from GE Aerospace. But there are one or two issues with the first batch of Tejas Mk1A which need further testing, like the integration of AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar. Maybe we are there at 90-95%, but the last 5% is still to be fixed. Another one (problem) is missile integration. A few tests are still pending. We need to fly Tejas with the missile (without firing it) to find out whether structurally everything is fine, like aerodynamically. I am not giving any exact timeline, but we are hopeful it (first batch of jets) will be done by this year.”On the more advanced version of the aircraft, Tejas Mk2, the HAL CMD said, “Tejas Mk 2 is an offshoot of Tejas Mk1A. Structure coupling is going on. It has come to that stage. We are planning to do the grounder (ground testing) by Feb. The F414 engine is a brand new engine. It is the first time the country is using it. Some tests will be required.”Denying that HAL is working on any Super Sukhoi programme, Ravi K said HAL is already “engaged in the design work for indigenising some systems of existing Su-30MK1 fighter jets like radar, though the project has not come to us”.On the licensed production of the 100-seat Russian SJ-100 regional passenger jet, the CMD said, “Currently we are trying to understand the technical aspect of the Russian aircraft SJ-100. What are the facilities required, what are the ecosystems required. All the technical discussions are continuing. Then we will enter the commercial aspect of it. We will sign the contract for transfer of technology. We have not put a timeline on it as it needs a lot of discussion.”The CMD said, “HAL is going into the Combat Air Teaming System (indigenous Indian manned-unmanned teaming programme). We are building the prototype.”Explaining the absence of HAL from the fifth-generation fighter jet AMCA programme, Ravi K said, “The entities participating in it had to partner with somebody. But HAL as a whole, it seems, was not meeting the parameters for the AMCA programme and therefore it has not been shortlisted for the programme.”On modernising HAL facilities, the CMD said, “We are spending on infrastructure across all the divisions. We will modernise all the divisions and all the hangars. We are investing in core activities, not non-core activities.”HAL is planning to establish maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) in foreign countries too. “We are looking for foreign partners that can establish MROs on their own in their country.”“I am very elated that we are going to deliver on Friday the remaining two Tejas trainer aircraft of the total 40 LCA Mk1 contract to the IAF. I had myself signed the contract. I am so happy that we are going to finish the delivery of the first contract. We are also going to deliver HTT-40 trainer aircraft to the IAF and finish the long-pending project. It is very critical for the IAF. You can’t sit on an LCA unless you have basic flight training. You have to first sit on a simulator and then HTT-40 and then NJT (New Jet Trainer). It is an important milestone for all of us as well as for the country. Besides them, we are going to hand over advanced Dhruv NG helicopters to Pawan Hans. The helicopter has multirole functions, like offshore (deployment) and medivac,” the CMD said, adding, a happy moment as “we will get the certification on Friday”.
