HAL improves aircraft manufacturing

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) plans to deliver four Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) standard aircraft (fighters) by March 2019, Minister of State for Defence Dr. Subhash Bhamre said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha on 11 Feb 2019.

It has already delivered 12 of the 16 aircraft, contract for which was signed in March 2006.

HAL is to go ahead with the production of 20 Final Operational Clearance (FOC) standard aircraft (16 FOC fighters and 4 FOC trainers), contract for which was signed in December 2010.

The Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) has handed over Drawing Applicability List (DAL) and Equipment Standard of Preparation (SOP) documents for FOC configuration to HAL on 31 December 2018 duly cleared by Centre of Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) to go ahead with the production of FOC fighter aircraft.

Accordingly, HAL has taken up the production of LCA, FOC fighter aircraft.

The production of 8 trainer aircraft (4 each in IOC and FOC contracts) would be taken up only after design clearance from ADA.

In order to fast track the delivery of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, the following steps have been taken:

For ramping up production capacity from existing 8 aircraft to 16 aircraft per annum, the Government had sanctioned Rs.1,381.04 crore in March 2017;

Establishment of second line for structural and equipping activities at HAL’s Aircraft Division;

Increased the number of jigs for Front Fuselage, Centre Fuselage, Rear Fuselage, Wings and various sub-assemblies and established contracts for outsourcing to private partners;

Reduction in manufacturing cycle time through improved supply chain management, learning and augmentation of manpower.

HAL’s capabilities have been improved over the last three years.

The initiatives were:

For establishment of major servicing facility for Hawk-132 aircraft, the Government had sanctioned Rs.450.59 crore in February 2016.

For Repair and Overhaul (RoH) Facility for Adour Mk 871-07 engines, the Government had sanctioned Rs.205.65 crore in March 2016.

For ramping up of manufacturing facility of LCA Tejas from existing 8 to 16 aircraft per annum, the Government had sanctioned Rs.1,381.04 crore in March 2017 with 50% funding by the Government.

For enhancement of RoH capacity of Su-30 MKI from existing 15 to 20 aircraft and aggregates from 15 to 35 aircraft sets per annum, the Government had sanctioned Rs.1,324.33 crore in April 2017.d

For establishment of RoH facility for 3 Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) of Adour Mk 871-07 engines fitted on Hawk Mk 132 aircraft, the Government had sanctioned Rs.60.72 Crore in August 2017. fiinews.com