HAL upgrades LCA project to boost production
Ahead of obtaining a final operational clearance for the light-combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has now upgraded the project group to a full-fledged division to look after production in a systematic way with more investments. Overall fund allocation for development and production of Tejas is Rs 25,000 crore.
"As far as LCA production is concerned, HAL is on the right path. LCA Project Group has now been upgraded as full-fledged division to look after production in a systematic way with more investments," a senior HAL official told FE. "The new initiative will help enhance rate of production, reduce production cycle time by incorporating several advanced defence aerospace technologies," the official said.
HAL has drawn up ambitious plans to revamp capabilities and capacity, and the company is confident of meeting the challenges on production front. "The plan is to roll out 16 LCAs every year from the initial target of eight per year," the official said. However, for induction into the Air Force, LCA must pass the final operational clearance (FOC), which has slipped a few months into 2015. Earlier this week, the first of the LCA Tejas built to series production standard successfully completed its maiden flight in Bangalore, piloted by HAL chief test pilot retired Air Cmde KA Muthana.
"This could be achieved within nine months after receiving the initial operational clearance (IOC) certification in December 2013 and within one year after receiving the build standard documents," according to HAL chaiman RK Tyagi. "The aircraft is now ready for IAF operations," said Tyagi.
The other series aircraft are in various stages of "build" in the fully equipped production line at HAL factory at Bangalore. The contract for delivery of aircraft was signed in 2006 for first 20 LCA Tejas aircraft in IOC configuration. The IAF's initial requirement is put at around 200 LCAs and 20 two-seat conversion trainers.
The first 40 jets will be equipped with General Electric F404 engines. Simultaneously, Indian engineers together with French experts are developing domestically-designed gas turbine engine, dubbed Kaveri.
Russia started in-flight tests of the Kaveri engine in autumn 2010. According to officials, no country opts for 100% indigenisation as it is not cost effective and needs huge infrastructure. Hence, he explained that the main structure and sub-systems of the aircraft are indigenised and the remaining parts are imported.
The development of the home-grown fighter aircraft, has already taken 30 years at an estimated cost of over Rs 17,000 crore.
HAL faced many technological challenges in the making of LCA that included sanctions on import of carbon fibre, establishing the entire tooling and manufacturing capability by in-house design of tooling and test equipments and incorporation of world class manufacturing standards.
The business partners working on India's prestigious LCA have decided to ensure the indigenous content of components used in the aircraft touches 80% in the next three years.
