HAL Bags A Request For Proposal From Air Force

05 Feb 2021

PSU says Hindustan Turboprop Trainers will be made in Bengaluru , Nashik

 The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited ( HAL ) has received a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Indian Air Force for its Hindustan Turboprop Trainer (HTT-40) aircraft

at the on-going Aero India 2021.

The RFP is for 70 aircraft with an additional clause for 38 more aircraft

. HAL said that the production will take place at two of its manufacturing units in Bengaluru and Nashik.

The RFP has come within six years from the first flight of HAL, which is said to be the shortest timeline in the aircraft industry. The trainer will have more than 60 percent indigenous content and is supported by agencies such as CEMILAC, RDAQA, ASTE and others.

The (HTT-40) is a tandem seat trainer aircraft with advanced features like zero-zero ejection seats and multi-function displays, it can also be adapted as a light attack aircraft

. Its role includes basic flying training, aerobatics, instrument flying, navigation, night flying, close formation etc.

Futurtistc Technologies

One futuristic technology which would change India’s air combat capability and another one which can fix the logistical challenges in high altitude forward areas are being developed by the HAL.

The defence PSU is developing Combat Air Teaming System (CATS) which involves the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas as the mother-ship platform along with components such as the Hunter, Alpha and Warrior

Arup Chaterjee, director engineering, R&D, HAL, said that the CATS is a combined air teaming system with the mothership flying on top along with Hunter which can inflict strikes deep inside the enemy territory, Alpha with swarm drones and Warrior which can strike after entering nearly 700 km inside the enemy territory

“We don’t want our pilots to go into the territory of the enemy. The CATS Hunter, Alpha and the Warrior would instead enter the enemy territory and carry out the attack,” Chaterjee said.

HAL has set up a CATS simulator which will have 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.

That apart HAL is also developing the Rotary UAV which can help in delivering rations to troops deployed in highaltitude areas.

“If an Army base camp is located 18,000 feet above sea level it is very difficult to supply basic ration to the troops, the only way to supply rations is by using Mules. What we want to do is develop Rotary UAVs with payload capacity of around 25-30 kg. They can go and drop the rations at the basecamps and then come back. Besides they can also do surveillance,” he added.

Ourtesy: IndiaTimes