HAL’s HTFE-25 turbofan engine
Inaugural run of HAL’s 25 kN indigenous turbofan engine, or HTFE-25, was conducted in presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar at HAL’s Engine Division in Bangalore on 14 December 2015. The engine is being developed for basic, intermediate and advanced trainer aircraft, and also to power business jets and similar light general aviation aircraft. The Defence Minister also launched design and development of the 1,200 kW Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine (HTSE-1200), being developed for helicopters.
Complimenting HAL Parrikar also said that concerted efforts should be made to achieve maximum success in the aeronautical sphere, with active participation of HAL and the private sector. The Defence Minister also referred to HAL’s HTT-40 basic trainer programme, noting that the company is “almost there”.
New HAL helicopter facility at Tumkur
On 3 January 2015 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for HAL’s new Helicopter Manufacturing Facility at Tumakuru (Tumkur), some 100 km from Bangalore. “With this, the small village has come on the world-map as it would be manufacturing machines that would protect the country. It is no ordinary facility, as the world’s attention would be focused on it. I expect the indigenous helicopter under ‘Make in India’ to fly out by 2018 … [this] is a gift from Government of India to the people of Karnataka, Tumakuru in particular. Nearly 4,000 families, directly or indirectly will benefit from this investment of Rs 5,000 crore.”
The Prime Minister hoped that HAL would produce 600 helicopters in 15-year period and India’s military would be the greatest beneficiary. “I want companies such as HAL to help the country reduce dependency on overseas suppliers,” he said.
HAL’s ‘Centre for Aerospace Management Excellence & Leadership’
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar inaugurated HAL’s Centre for Aerospace Management Excellence & Leadership at Marathahalli on 15 December 2015. Addressing the gathering, he said that the new facility is the right step for training human resources to ensure the success of ‘Make in India.’ He hoped the new centre would become a focus of technology and management expertise in India.
The 16-acre campus is being built adjoining the ISRO campus and aims to promote design and engineering excellence with modern infrastructure. The HAL Management Academy (HMA) is involved in management and design training, and also provides learning and development opportunities for middle and senior level executives.
HAL seeks foreign partners for regional airliner
According to T Suvarna Raju, CMD HAL, the organisation is expected to float a tender by March 2016 inviting global aircraft manufacturers to partner it in the design and development of a 50-70 seat airliner. The project is estimated to cost Rs 7,000 crore including manufacture of three prototypes, testing and certification.
Some time back, National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) and HAL had been cleared to set up a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for a regional transport aircraft project, the RTA-70, but this was not progressed. Since 2007, NAL have been conducting in-house design studies for a turboprop airliner but this never went beyond the drawing board. “There will be a requirement for 200 such aircraft in India over the next five years,” said T Suvarna Raju.