Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the aerospace major, signed
the Preliminary Design Phase (PDP) Contract today in New Delhi with the United
Aircraft Corporation — Transport Aircraft (UAC-TA), the Russian partner and
their JV-Multirole Transport Aircraft Ltd (MTAL) for the Multirole Transport
Aircraft (MTA) project as a follow on contract of the General Contract signed
between the three parties in May 2012.
File Photos of a model of MTA at DefExpo 2012
“With this HAL and UAC-TA will start the preliminary design
work immediately at Moscow. HAL design team consisting of 30 designers will be
positioned at UAC-TA”, says Mr. R.K.Tyagi, Chairman, HAL who was present on the
occasion. The primary objective of the project is to achieve self-reliance in
design, development and production of aircraft of this size and also to manage
the programme with international collaboration and large number of global
suppliers, he adds.
The contract was signed by Mr. T. Suvarnaraju, HAL’s
Director (Design and Development) and Mr. S.Velmozhkin, General Director,
UAC-TA.
An Inter Governmental Agreement was signed on November 12,
2007 to design, develop and produce the multi-role transport aircraft in the
15-20 tonne class, jointly by the Indian and Russian agencies (HAL and UAC-TAS)
to meet the requirements of 100 aircraft for the Russian Air Force, 45 aircraft
for the IAF and 60 for other countries. The total requirement for the present
is 205.
On completion of the agreed work share of the PDP Contract
in 10 months, Detail Design Phase (DDP) Contract will be signed to complete the
design and development of MTA.
The aircraft will be designed for cargo / troop
transportation, paradrop/air drop of supplies including ‘low altitude parachute
extraction system’ and is to be co-developed by HAL, UAC, and Rosoboronexport
of Russia, through MTAL.
HAL will carry out the design and development of its
workshare of the MTA at the Aircraft R&D Centre (ARDC) at Bangalore while
its Transport Aircraft Division (TAD) at Kanpur will manufacture the prototypes
and subsequently the serial production will be undertaken at Kanpur where
dedicated facilities are being set up.
HAL’s other R&D Centres and manufacturing Divisions will
share development of systems and LRUs and manufacture of components,
sub-assemblies and composite structure. HAL will showcase its expertise in
design of aircraft as well as systems, manufacturing and flight testing while
jointly working with the Russian team in Moscow as well as in India.
HAL has a dedicated Division for manufacture and support of
transport aircraft at Kanpur which is the only proven facility in the country
for transport aircrafts. This Division has a co-located R&D centre for
transport aircraft.
The production of 44 seater HS-748 (Avro)
passenger/transport Aircraft commenced at this Division in early 1960s. Eighty
nine Avro aircrafts were produced at this Division out of which 22 aircrafts
were supplied to civilian customers. The Division is still supporting these
aircrafts even after five decades inspite of obsolescence and non-availability
of OEMs support thanks to R&D efforts in maintaining fleet serviceability.
HAL has undertaken a number of upgrades and modifications to overcome
obsolescence and performance enhancement.
Subsequently, production of 19 seater Dornier 228
passenger/utility aircraft started in early 1984. So far 116 aircrafts have
been produced for various roles out of which 14 aircrafts were supplied to
domestic civilian customers besides export of another two aircrafts. HAL is
also exporting complete Dornier 228 aircraft structure to Ruag, Germany with
EASA certification. Currently, the Division is supplying aircraft to various defence
customers. One aircraft will be exported to Seychelles during this financial
year.
The Division is also expecting a number of bulk orders from
domestic/foreign customers in near future.
No comments:
Post a Comment