Bengaluru, Sep 18 (NVI): Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday handed over two LCA Tejas Final Operational Clearance (FOC) twin-seater trainers and three HTT-40 basic trainer aircraft to the Indian Air Force, besides four Dhruv Next Generation (NG) helicopters to Pawan Hans Limited.
The platforms were handed over in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu at a ceremony here.
Describing the occasion as a milestone in India’s efforts to develop indigenous aerospace capabilities, Singh said the country needs to build an aerospace ecosystem capable of catering to both defence and civil aviation requirements.
He called for greater cooperation between the public and private sectors to develop next-generation aerospace technologies and reduce dependence on imports.
“There can be no sudden ‘big bang’ in the development of aerospace systems. It is a vast and gradual process involving a wide range of components,” Singh said, according to an official statement.
The Defence Minister also stressed the need for realistic timelines in technical projects, saying delays could lead to gaps in meeting defence requirements, cost escalation and the risk of technology becoming obsolete.
Singh said future air operations would be increasingly technology-driven and information-intensive, making indigenous development of advanced systems important for operational effectiveness.
He said the LCA FOC trainer would support the IAF in preparing pilots for frontline fighter operations, while the HTT-40 would meet the basic training requirements of the armed forces.
The two LCA twin-seater trainers handed over on Friday are the final aircraft under the FOC contract, according to HAL.
The HTT-40 is an indigenously designed and developed basic trainer aircraft intended for primary training of pilots. It is equipped with a modern cockpit and avionics and can undertake aerobatics, instrument flying, navigation, night flying and formation flying.
Singh said HAL should expand its capabilities across the aerospace value chain, including design, development, manufacturing, certification, maintenance and global marketing.
He also called upon young scientists, engineers, designers, test pilots and technicians to develop new technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence, autonomous systems, unmanned aerial systems, electronic warfare, cyber technologies and next-generation propulsion.
Naidu said the certification and induction of the Dhruv NG into civil operations marked an important development for India’s indigenous civil aviation ecosystem.
The Dhruv NG, configured for civil operations, features enhanced systems, modern avionics and a more powerful engine. It is intended for applications including passenger transport, emergency medical services and offshore logistics support.
HAL CMD Ravi K said the handover demonstrated the company’s capability to develop and deliver aircraft and helicopters for both civil and defence requirements.
Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal A P Singh, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar and Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha were among those present at the event.—(NVI)
