Indian Air Force: News & Discussions

WolfPack86

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 20, 2015
Messages
10,502
Likes
16,946
Country flag
In a first, Tata to build military aircraft in India as it acquires IP rights
In a first for the industry, the Tata Group will develop and manufacture a military aircraft in India, having acquired intellectual property rights for a German-origin platform. The plan, ET has reliably learnt, is to integrate indigenous sensors and payloads to convert it into an intelligence gathering asset.

The high-altitude, twin-engine aircraft, capable of playing multiple roles from signal intelligence to cross-border surveillance, is currently in the final stages of testing in Germany. It is likely to arrive in India in the next three months for further integration.

This would be the first time that an Indian private entity is looking at making a full military-grade aircraft, which until now has been the domain of the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics NSE 1.28 % (HAL).

Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) will showcase the capabilities of the aircraft at the AeroIndia in Bengaluru next week. Though the company has not shared details of the design, the aircraft is likely to be based on the Grob G 180 SPn – a German-made jet that never reached serial production due to financial strains.

TASL is yet to get any firm orders for the aircraft in India, but top executives say the investment has been done keeping in mind future requirements of the armed forces. A manufacturing plant will be set up for serial production in the future, they added.

The company sources said the aircraft it is developing is designed for flying at 41,000 feet altitude with a maximum altitude of 45,000 feet and can be used for intelligence gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) purposes. It is designed to land on grass and gravel. The low-wing, twin-engine composite aircraft is expected to have a range of 1800 nautical miles and 6-7 hours endurance with a payload capacity in excess of 1,000 kg.

“We are now focusing on modifying the aircraft to fit special payloads so that it can undertake a demonstration of surveillance capabilities. For a country like India, with multiple mountain ranges spread across the country, including on international borders, this capacity is extremely vital. India has been dependent on foreign suppliers to meet this need,” said Sukaran Singh, MD of TASL.

He added that acquiring such technology will enable India to modify and fit any payloads it wants within the country, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers. “With TASL bringing this aircraft technology to the table, India will have a cutting edge air-borne surveillance platform, with control over the software, customisation as well as maintenance, based within the country,” he said.

The need for effective border surveillance has been a focus after recent tensions with China in Ladakh.
 

DerBronzeLord

Regular Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2021
Messages
761
Likes
3,109
Country flag
IAF Su-30MKI , Mirage-2000 and Rafales are flying with a French Rafale.
View attachment 75935
For the last one week, I have been hearing aircraft noises repeatedly. Every 20 minutes or so, an aircraft or a helo flies over. I was on the terrace a few days back and managed to see a MiG. I have seen MiG's before, but seeing it over my roof was kinda cool.
 

Gandaberunda

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2019
Messages
1,769
Likes
8,434
Country flag
Fun story about the HAL Marut.

The Marut was produced in Maratahalli, BLR. The locals to date are convinced that the locality got its name from the HAL Marut.
It's not produced. The Marut aircraft crashed near the village next to HAL airport and hence the village name Marath halli.
 

Lonewolf

Psychopathic Neighbour
Senior Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2021
Messages
7,300
Likes
27,599
Country flag
Does your Diwali rocket come with 10 mtr CEP @100 km and perform bunker busting role from a SOD?
Dude that was a joke ,
But really do we need to induct this , we can have better system or equal by drdo .
It's not a bad platform but why buy a foreign product at first place , this weapon diplomacy wasn't required .
 

ezsasa

Designated Cynic
Mod
Joined
Jul 12, 2014
Messages
31,716
Likes
146,985
Country flag
Dude that was a joke ,
But really do we need to induct this , we can have better system or equal by drdo .
It's not a bad platform but why buy a foreign product at first place , this weapon diplomacy wasn't required .
probably this is a hint towards what the forces are preparing for.
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top