On the Record with N R MOHANTY, CHAIRMAN, HINDUSTAN AERONAUTICS LTD
"Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, over the past six decades,
has established itself as the largest aeronautical industry in South
East Asia. It is now poised for a major leap into the global arena.
With its wide spectrum of expertise in design, development and manufacture
of aircraft, helicopters, engines, accessories and avionics, HAL
today emerges as a major force to reckon with."
So claims HAL chairman N R Mohanty, spearheading an impressive
Indian aerospace presence at Le Bourget, which includes the overseas
show debut of not one but two of HAL's new production Dhruv advanced
light helicopters (ALHs). Over 300 will be built for the Indian
forces, and agreement has been reached with Israel Aircraft Industries
for their international marketing.
The Dhruvs comprise just one of an extensive range of current
HAL design, development, production and upgrade programs, involving
light and medium helicopters, turboprop and turbofan transports,
a basic jet trainer, and no fewer than four combat aircraft. Since
his appointment to head HAL, Mohanty has supervised a substantial
increase in productivity and profitability. This has allowed HAL
to pay 57% of the paid-up capital as dividend to the Indian government-the
highest dividend so far declared. Sales and profit in 2002-03 were
$644.3 million and $96.7 million respectively.
"One of our biggest current programs is the progressive 100%
licensed production of 140 Sukhoi Su-30MKI advanced multirole combat
aircraft, and their AL-31FP vectored-thrust turbofans for the IAF,"
said HAL's chairman. "These are on schedule, and will supplement
current deliveries of initial Su-30MKIs to the IAF from Irkut, with
the first appearing from the HAL line from late 2004. We're also
making good progress, in conjunction with India's Aeronautical Development
Agency, with our own Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), now known as the
Tejas. The first two demonstrator GE F404-powered LCAs have completed
more than 80 flights, and we're continuing development of the Kaveri-engined
version, plus design studies for two-seat and navalized variants."
HAL is also well advanced with major upgrades of 123 IAF MiG-21bis,
and the first MiG-27Ms, as well as IAF Jaguar low-level ground-attack
fighters, with Su-30MKI-type digital avionics suites. A further
17 two-seat and 20 single-seat Jaguars are also being built by HAL
to similar standards.
"We're proud of having achieved a first flight of our new
HJT-36 intermediate jet trainer (IJT) on March 7, within three years
of its initial concept," said Mohanty. "A second prototype
should fly before the year's end, also with a Snecma Larzac turbofan,
but we're also considering Russia's new 3,750 pounds thrust Saturn
AL-55 as an alternative. The IAF needs about 200 IJTs, which have
good export prospects."
"Another important program taking shape with Russia is the
Indo-Russian transport aircraft (IRTA-21). Heads of agreement have
been signed with Irkutsk Aviation Industrial Association, Ilyushin
Aviation Complex and Rosoboronexport for 50:50 joint co-development
and co-production of this multirole tactical transport. A detailed
project report is under preparation, for early submission to both
governments for approval. IRTA development will take about six years,
with concurrent series production, and the first aircraft will be
delivered in the seventh year."
