Galaxy
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Messages
- 7,086
- Likes
- 3,934
With HAL overloaded, IAF turns to private sector
Ajai Shukla/New Delhi - Sep 08,2011 01:21 AM
$50 billion could be spent on new aircraft from 2012-2017.
The new Indian Air Force (IAF) chief, Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne, has reached out to India's fledgling private aerospace industry. Worried by the growing inability of public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to keep the IAF fleet flying, Browne has promised to back a private sector production line that will manufacture a replacement for the vintage HS-748 Avro transport aircraft. The private sector is needed, says the IAF chief, to back the air force's major expansion.
Browne told a gathering of aerospace CEOs in New Delhi last week that the IAF had signed 271 capital acquisition contracts between 2006 and 2011, paying out Rs 1,12,000 crore ($25 billion). Questioned by Business Standard separately, the IAF's top acquisitions manager forecast that an additional Rs 2,24,000 crore ($50 billion) could be spent on new aircraft from 2012-2017. This figure is significantly higher than various estimations made in the past.
According to the IAF chief, the new platforms being inducted during the 11th and 12th Defence Plans (from 2007-2017) included the Su-30MKI; the new Light Combat Aircraft (LCA); the medium multi-role combat aircraft ("If we can sign that contract it will be a big relief for us&"); the Indo-Russian Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft; the very heavy transport aircraft (Boeing's C-17 Globemaster III); the medium transport aircraft; and a range of helicopters that are being developed by HAL. Browne also included new surface-to-air missile systems; air defence systems; and the modernisation of 29 airfields that will conclude by 2014.
But keeping this multi-billion dollar fleet flying, said the IAF chief, meant a big role for the private sector. Browne appealed for support "in terms of spares, in terms of life-cycle support, and the other systems for which we cannot keep relying on the OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) or the foreign partners… We must have a robust aerospace industry that grows with the IAF to support us. That is what we look forward to from our (industry) partners.&"
Appealing to private industry for support through the entire 40-year service lives of these high-tech aircraft ("the cradle-to-grave concept&", he called it), Browne urged, "We need to imbibe the culture of supporting the equipment through its lifetime. This also includes the mid-life upgrades and also in case of licensed production, the OEM (who may be a foreign partner) and the local aerospace industry here would have to transfer R & D and move to building spare parts from there.
Pledging his support to the private sector, Browne promised to back the Indian aerospace industry in building a replacement for the HS-748 Avro transport aircraft, which has already been in service for half a century. "We have proposed to the MoD that we could buy a certain amount (of Avro replacement aircraft) from the OEM outside, and then have local industry here manufacture the rest in terms of licensed production.&"
The IAF currently has 56 HS-748 Avro aircraft, which are 5-8 tonne transport and communications aircraft. At one time, the IAF used the Avro for VVIP transport.
Such an order would have, in the past, automatically gone to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). But the IAF, deeply worried about HAL's growing delays in delivering aircraft that it is already building (e.g. the Su-30MKI), has apparently decided to back a private sector alternative to HAL.
Browne said, "We have suggested this model (of private sector participation) to the government. Otherwise it will go to a defence PSU, who as you are quite aware, their capacities are also limited, and they have too much on their hands at this point in time. So this kind of process would certainly help the aerospace industry in the long term.&"
The IAF is concerned, however, at the low R & D spend within the private sector; and also at the lack of track record. It believes, therefore, that the best way to bring the private sector into aerospace manufacture is through promoting licensed manufacture in partnership with a foreign OEM. According to Browne the Avro replacement offers an ideal opportunity because the aircraft would be suitable not just for the IAF, but for civilian users as well.
"This is a suggestion given by the IAF and I'm happy to tell you that the ministry has a very positive take on this point. In due course of time, when the issue comes up before the Defence Acquisition Council, you have my assurance that this will have my support, and we'll try and push that through,&" promised Browne.
With HAL overloaded, IAF turns to private sector
