Cavalier India Defence Training Academy

Major boost  to indigenous defence technologies To indigenous defence technologies  at least 51% of the 123 LCA Tejas fighters that will be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) will have the desi Uttam radar, replacing Israeli radars that the first batch of aircraft will be equipped with. In all, IAF will get 123 Tejas fighters: 40 in initial and final operational clearance (IOC and FOC) configurations and 83 Tejas Mark-1A, orders for which were placed in the first week of February. While the first 40 will have mechanical radars (all Israeli), 83 Mk-1A planes will have Active electronically scanned array (AESA) radars. “We will have the Uttam radar from the 21st Tejas Mk-1A to be produced. Uttam has performed better than anticipated in the trials so far. We’ve already signed an MoU with HAL,” DRDO chairman Sateesh Reddy told TOI. This means 63 of the 83 will be indigenous Uttam radars developed by LRDE (Electronics and Radar Development Establishment), a DRDO lab in Bengal...

Total indigenous content of the Ka-226T Utility helicopters “In Ka-226T when we talk of 70% indigenous content, it is not the same as the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) 52%. The 70% is of the Russian content. Engine from Safran and avionics from other countries are not accounted for in this. Balance is what we are looking and from there 70% is taken.  Taking the whole helicopter, the indigenous content is about 27-33%,” he said in response to a question from The Hindu at Aero India. Russians were unable to offer 70% of this and they offered upto 62%; that too which will come only in Phase-4 of production, he stated. Defence Ministry is also asking for better split of indigenous production from Phase-2 onwards and increasing it to 70% by including more items, Mr. Madhavan said, adding that the items are being identified for including in the Transfer of Technology to bring the indigenous content up to 70%. The Ka-226T is meant to replace the ageing and obsolete Cheetah and Chetak fleet ...

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday delivered the three helicopters to the Indian Navy and two to the Coast Guard during the ongoing Aero India show in Bengaluru.  Indian Navy and Coast Guard received upgraded advanced light helicopters (ALH) -- the Mark III versions -- meant for costal security on Friday. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) delivered the three helicopters to the Navy and two to the Coast Guard during the ongoing Aero India show in Bengaluru. Out of 16 Mk-III helicopters, these are the first five of the upgraded Mark III. “HAL today handed over three Advanced Light Helicopter [ALH Mk III] to Indian Navy and two ALHs to Indian Coast Guard as part of its 16 ALHs contract at the ongoing Aero India 2021,” a statement from HAL said. These are fully loaded multi-mission helicopters fitted with an array of advanced sensors. This will enhance Navy and Coast guard’s capabilities for maritime security and surveillance to prevent 26/11-like terror attacks. Features ...

"The remaining helicopters from the contract are under various stages of production, flight tests and we plan to deliver all the helicopters within the contract delivery schedules despite production slowdown due to COVID restrictions." State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) on Friday said it has handed over three Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH Mk III) to the Indian Navy and two to Indian Coast Guard as part of its 16 helicopter contract at the ongoing Aero India. The company also said its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) received the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) for the Indian Army from Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC).  The ALHs were handed over by R Madhavan, CMD, HAL to Admiral Karambir Singh, Chief of Naval Staff and K Natarajan, DG, Coast Guard in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. "The remaining helicopters from the contract are under various stages of production, flight tests and we plan to deliv...

State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)  It has received a Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Indian Air Force for basic trainer HTT-40. The documents were handed over to HAL CMD R Madhavan, by Air Marshal Sandeep Singh, Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (DCAS) and DG (Acquisition), Ministry of Defence V L Kantha Rao, at the ongoing Aero India 2021. The certification will be given against the Preliminary Services Qualitative Requirements (PSQR) and the production will take place at HALs two manufacturing units at Bengaluru and Nashik. "The RFP has come within six years from the first flight of HAL which is the shortest time-line in the aircraft industry," it said. The trainer will have more than 60 percent indigenous content and is supported by agencies such as Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC), Regional Director Aeronautical Quality Assurance (RDAQA), and Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment (ASTE) and others, it added. ...

The first Mk-1A aircraft will be delivered to the air force in three years, with the rest being supplied by 2030. The deal involves the supply of 73 Mk-1A fighter jets and 10 LCA Mk-1 trainer A three-star Indian Air Force officer will head the team that will monitor the  ₹ 48,000 crore LCA (light combat aircraft) Mk-1A contract awarded to state-run plane maker Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), a senior defence ministry officer said at  Aero India 2021  on Thursday. The monitoring team will ensure timely delivery of the 83 aircraft. “Right from the contract signing, an integrated project monitoring team headed by the deputy chief of air staff will closely monitor the implementation of the contract. Biannual review by all stakeholders is planned to undertake course corrections needed to enable HAL to deliver the rated production,” said VL Kantha Rao, director general (acquisition) in the ministry.

In a first for the industry, the Tata Group will develop and manufacture a military aircraft in India, having acquired intellectual property rights for a German-origin platform. The plan, ET has reliably learnt, is to integrate indigenous sensors and payloads to convert it into an intelligence gathering asset. The high-altitude, twin-engine aircraft, capable of playing multiple roles from signal intelligence to cross-border surveillance, is currently in the final stages of testing in Germany. It is likely to arrive in India in the next three months for further integration. This would be the first time that an Indian private entity is looking at making a full military-grade aircraft, which until now has been the domain of the state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics NSE 1.28 % (HAL). Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) will showcase the capabilities of the aircraft at the AeroIndia in Bengaluru next week. Though the company has not shared details of the design, the aircraft is likely to be based on t...

India has just placed its largest order for buying fighter jets, and it's none other than the indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft, or LCA. From a country that has bought Rafales, Sukhois and MiGs from foreign powers, to be able to rely on its own homebuilt aircraft is a big leap. But Indian manufacturers must not rest easy now, feels Kota Harinarayana, the father of the LCA project, as India is poised for greater heights. It is time for Indian aircraft makers like HAL to look at exporting their home-built jets to other countries as well, now that their prowess is proven, he says in an interview with News18. Excerpts: It must be a proud moment for you, with the defence services' biggest order. Shows a lot more trust in India's indigenous prowess. I'm very happy because it's a major order and the largest order HAL has so far had in its history. And it's an order not on a licensed aircraft but an indigenously designed and developed aircraft. So it's an impor...

IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria took a sortie in the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter in Bengaluru on Thursday. IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria KEY HIGHLIGHTS On Thursday, Bhadauria undertook a sortie in newly-inducted Apache choppers. Two LCHs have been deployed in Leh. Bengaluru :  Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief RKS Bhadauria took a sortie in the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) in Bengaluru today. he sortie lasted for 45 minutes.  On Thursday, Bhadauria had taken a sortie in newly-inducted Apache attack helicopter. He was on a two-day visit to the western part of the country. He also reviewed the operational preparedness of fighter squadrons in the sector. #WATCH IAF Chief RKS Bhadauria took a sortie in the indigenous Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) in Bengaluru today. The LCH is planned to be inducted into the Indian defence forces in the near future. pic.twitter.com/i0VuId6330 — ANI (@ANI) November 20, 2020 "Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal, RKS Bhadauria un...

India has decided to manufacture light choppers designed for operations in high altitudes, vital for maintaining troops through the year, following spike in border deployments. Representative Image The indigenous light utility helicopter (LUH), which has performed well in recent trials in Ladakh as well, will initially be produced in limited numbers before a larger order is placed for the Army and Air Force. With both satisfied with trial performances, the defence ministry is now processing the first order for 12 choppers, which will be followed by a larger batches to achieve a total of 187 LUHs in service. “The acceptance of necessity for the first 12 helicopters is being approved. Once the order is placed, we will be in the position to deliver all of them within 28 months as the production facilities are already in place,” R Madhavan, the chairman of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, which has designed and developed the chopper, told ET. The indigenous light utility helicopter (LUH), ...

Representative Image  Addressing a seminar on ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India), organised by the Ministry of Defence recently, the PM exhorted the armed forces to embark on the self-reliance mission with full self-confidence. He also dwelt on the need to make India a defence manufacturing hub with the active involvement of the private sector not only in manufacturing but also in research and development. One of the key pathways to realising this vision could be opened if the Indian Air Force (IAF) unleashes a wave of domestic manufacturing to revamp its fleet. The euphoria generated by the arrival of Rafale should not blind us to the long haul that the IAF needs to make in renewing and expanding its fleet to overcome obsolescence and attrition. The threat of a two-front war currently looms large with an intransigent China least hesitant to mobilise its forces to grab territory or collude with Pakistan. In the current context every effort has to be made to fill in the voids...

Indian Army : Dhruv - Advanced Light Helicopter HAL may enter as government revisits Navy chopper plan. The Rs 21,000-crore plan to manufacture naval utility helicopters in partnership with a foreign vendor has been in the works for over a year and important decisions on going to the next step of technical evaluation have to be taken shortly.   The defence ministry is re-evaluating its big ‘Make in India’ plan to manufacture naval utility helicopters. The companies have been asked to explain if the programme has export potential and the Centre is also looking at giving Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) a chance to enter the competition.  The Rs 21,000-crore plan to manufacture naval utility helicopters in partnership with a foreign vendor has been in the works for over a year and important decisions on going to the next step of technical evaluation have to be taken shortly.  #WATCH Uttarakhand:4 highly trained mountaineers of ITBP to be heli-dropped by IAF chopper...