HAL at Aero India 2021
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited were dominant at Aero India 2021, right from the very start, with their Aatmanirbhar Formation Flight, consisting of the LCA trainer (LIFT), HTT-40, HJT-36, Hawk-i and Civil Dornier 228 flying in a special formation signifying self-sufficiency in the segment.
Aunique flying display of HAL’s indigenous platforms (both fixed and rotary wing) aptly titled Aatmanirbhar Formation Flight were part of the flying display at start of the 13th edition of Aero India on 3 February 2021 at Air Force Station, Yelahanka. “HAL are showcasing their prowess in defence and aerospace centered on the theme ‘Conceive. Indigenise. Collaborate’ at this, the world’s first hybrid exhibition.”
The Aatmanirbhar Formation Flight consisted of HAL products such as the LCA trainer (LIFT), HTT-40, IJT, Advanced Hawk Mk.132 and Civil Dornier-228 flying in a special formation showcasing the spectrum of trainers and signifying selfsufficiency in this segment. The Sukhoi Su30MKI, Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Light Combat Helicopter (LCH), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) also took part in the flying display, while the static display included the Do 228 light transport aircraft Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT)-40, LUH and the Dhruv ALH Mk III.
HAL’s major attraction at Hall-E was the Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) simulator. The simulator had Tejas–Max cockpit as the mother-ship platform with the embedded air teaming intelligence concepts to demonstrate the fully integrated as well as autonomous wingman platforms and swarming of drones to engage in the mission. Immersive mission visualisation were projected over a wider screen apart
from the command and display at TejasMax cockpit.
The outdoor display adjacent to HAL stall featured rotary-wing products
including the LCH, ALH Mk.IV Rudra and ALH Civil variant.
HAL’s indoor pavilion was spread over an area of around 1126 sqm in Hall-E
and showcases indigenously designed and developed fixed and rotary wing platforms, technologies covering power plants and future generation combat capable airborne solutions. With the central theme of the India Pavilion being rotary-wing capabilities in India, HAL’s rotary platform Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) is the centre piece of the display with scaled models of the IMRH, ALH, LUH, LCH and the Indian helicopter manufacturing ecosystem/supply chain partners arrayed around it.
HAL were at the forefront to display their indigenously-built platforms to visiting defence delegations and holding business meetings with OEMs and customers
besides signing agreements and contracts with its business partners for various projects. Product launches, handing over ceremonies and major announcements were all part of HAL activities during the Show.