With industry help, LCA order can go beyond 123: T Suvarna Raju, Chairman, HAL



With industry stepping up participation by contributing major structures to the indigenous Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), HAL chairman T Suvarna Raju is confident the government can order well beyond 123 jets. In an interview to ET’s Manu Pubby, Raju said major milestones have been achieved on the LCA and chopper projects. 


The LVC flight Republic Day was a show of confidence. Has the project truly taken off? 

The LCA was the first single engine fighter to fly at the parade in 29 years. It shows the confidence of the customer. The fighter is no longer a prototype but is being flown by the Air Force. Just a few days back, the plane was flown with a refueling probe. This was the improvement we had promised on the aircraft. I understand that the flight went off well and no difference was felt in the performance of the plane and it proves the design is good. We’ll now do a wet trial to go after the refueler and fill the fighter up. This will be a major milestone. We will double the range of the fighter. 


Will LCA be ordered in larger numbers and what is the contribution of the industry to the project? 

We’re looking at a performance-based, time-wise plan to integrate a new AESA radar and electronic warfare suite on the fighter by 2018. If we keep up to our promise, I don’t think the order will stop at the current 123. Defence ministry is planning a single engine fighter to be made in India with the industry but even after that, there’s a gap of 200 odd fighters that we can make good. We have planned our manufacturing capability at 18-20 fighters a year and have started subcontracting – the wing to L&T and central fuselage to Vem Technologies. If they start delivering, it’ll enhance our capability. 

What’s the status of fifth gen fighter project with Russia? 

The cost negotiation committee has concluded discussions and the matter is to be put up before the government. We expect that within the next few months, there’ll be a positive way forward on this project. 


The light utility helicopter (LUH) is in high demand. How have recent flight trials been? 

LUH will be flying at Aero India show in Bangalore as part of our rotary wing formation. The chopper is flying well and we reached a speed of 200 km/h. If the pace is continued, we’re confident of getting the basic platform clearance for the chopper by the end of 2017. It is a very aggressive plan but we are confident. 


What is the future of the Hawk programme, including the variant you are planning with BAE for exports? 

We have tied up with BAE for two things – one is for the internal Hawk order for which we are upgrading the planes with unprecedented software that will add virtual training to the planes. This will place trainee pilots as close to the real situation as possible. We are also making a more advanced version of the Hawk that will have a modified wing for high speed maneuverability and engine with more power. This we are looking for the external market. The Air Force did not express keenness for the project when we started but once we start proving the capabilities, even the internal market could get interested. 




 Source :- Economic Times

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