HAL HTFE-25 (Hindustan Turbofan Engine 25) HAL's ambitions of entering the aircraft engine space in a meaningful manner has become clear now. While the development of high performance combat aircraft engines are being left to the DRDO's GTRE and its international partners, HAL has unveiled the HTFE-25 (Hindustan Turbofan Engine 25) that will be pitched to power trainers
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who laid the foundation stone for a helicopter unit of HAL Tumkur district in Karnataka set a deadline for the PSU HAL - the first chopper assembled at the unit should take the maiden flight in 2018. The government is investing over Rs 5,000 crore on the new helicopter factory spread across 600 acres of land. It will provide employment to more than 4,000 families, including farmers, in the region.
In a boost to government's 'Make in India' initiative, HAL has rolled-out the first prototype of HTT-40 with the aircraft sporting all the aircraft lights and powered on cockpit. Hindustan Turboprop Trainer (HTT-40) is a trainer aircraft being developed at HAL for the first stage training of rookie pilots.
The trials of indigenously built Aero Engine HTFE 25 have already proven successful. The engine which produces 25 kilonewtons of power can be used on primary, intermediate and advanced trainer aircrafts of the Air Force weighing up to 9 tonnes.
The indigenously built Tejas LCA or Light Combat aircraft has obtained initial operational clearance and the air force has agreed to buy 20 Tejas Mk 1 fighters from HAL. HAL/ADA is pacing up progress for the Final Operational Clearance mandate which has been scheduled for later this year. Continuing with its successful stride of flight trails in 2016, the Tejas achieved a major milestone on 5th February, 2016, one of the limited series production (LSP) platforms successfully test fired a Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Derby Air-to-Air Missile for the first time.
The Tejas created history by participating in the Bahrain International air show last month. It put up a mesmerizing performance by displaying its capabilities as a potent supersonic airborne platform which enthralled the crowd at the show. Tejas displayed its limits in vertical climbs, high-speed runs, tight turns and executed the fighter's slow flying ability. Fearing a major blowout by critics of the low cost, cheap quality Chinese made Pakistani JF-17 copied from the vintage MiG-21, Pakistan decided to pull out from the Bahrain International Airshow and save itself from humiliation at a global scale.
HAL has successfully upgraded the SEPECAT Jaguar deep penetration nuclear capable strike aircraft with modern Display, Attack, Range and Inertial Navigation (Darin III) DARIN III suite, it gives the Jaguar a new mission computer, developed by HAL, as well as better radar functions. The cockpit will see the installation of two sophisticated indigenously developed multifunctional displays, while the aircraft’s weapon, navigation and electronic warfare systems will be improved as well.
HAL assembles Sukhois Su30MKI under licence and technology transfer from Russia, in August last, Russian Aviation portal reported that India & Russia are negotiating upgrade of Su-30MKI fighters with HAL. The first Su-30MKI jets were delivered to India 20 years ago. The upgrade includes fitting the aircraft with new communication and data transmission systems as well as new radars.
The first two upgraded Indian Air Force Mirage 2000 aircraft with advanced navigational, radar and missile system landed at Gwalior Air Force Base on April 24, 2015. The upgrade enhances the overall capability of aircraft with advanced avionics, weapons and self protection suites, it also includes a night vision goggle-compatible glass cockpit, advanced navigational systems, advanced Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system, advanced multi-mode multi-layered radar, fully integrated electronic warfare suite besides others. It also includes a new firing system for Air-to-Air MICA missiles. HAL will be responsible for the maintenance & overhaul of the upgraded Mirage 2000I jets.
The Light Combat Helicopter, the Light Utility helicopter are two of the ambitious projects of the future for HAL. Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) completed performance trials paving way for finalization of basic configuration. The Defence Minister, Mr. Manohar Parrikar, had visited HAL’s helicopter complex in October 2015 and had a detailed look on the advanced features and armament fit of LCH prototypes. LCH is the only attack helicopter in the world which can operate above 10000 – 12000 feet altitude with considerable load of armament. In September 2015, HAL successfully carried out the hot and the high-altitude trials of indigenously designed, developed Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) attack chopper at Leh. These seasonal trials - including cold weather trials, the flight trials at Leh have established hover performance and low speed handling characteristics of the helicopter under extreme weather conditions at different altitudes (3200 to 4800 m). LCH also has proven its capability to land and take off at Forward Landing Base in Siachen. LCH is the first attack helicopter to land in Forward Base.
Russia's Rostec State Corporation will tie-up with HAL to manufacture at least 200 Kamov-226T helicopters at an estimated cost of Rs 6,000 crore.
Currently HAL is manufacturing Sukhoi Su-30MKI, Avanced Hawk Trainer, Dornier DO-228, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Cheetah / Chetak / Cheetal Helicopters and pilotless target aircraft.