India Russia signs follow-on MTA contract

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.

IAF Chief to review 5th Generation Fighter Jet progress in Moscow

Indian Air Force Chief Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne will embark on three day visit to Russia next week where he will review strategic joint ventures with age old patron in defence field including Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) and Multi-Role Transport Aircraft (MTA).

The visit, beginning August 8, will be first for Air Chief Marshal Browne after assuming the charge.

According to sources, the IAF Chief will be visiting Sukhoi Design Bureau and some other Russian Air Force establishments. India and Russia have been working on crucial FGFA and MTA under a fifty-fifty partnership.

The co-developed advanced stealth aircraft FGFA is expected to compete with the US F-22 Raptor, presently the world's only fifth generation fighter, and the under-development F-35 Lightning-II, at an estimated cost of $35 billion.

The Preliminary Design contract for the project was signed in 2010 and the two sides are in “hectic consultations” to freeze the design of this highly advance fighter.

As per US classifications, aircrafts in service from 1980 to 2010, or based on the designs of the 70s are categorised as 4th generation aircrafts. However, 5th generation aircrafts are more advanced with better stealth capabilities and higher speed potential in comparison to the former. The FGFA is being developed under Sukhoi's PAK FA project. The Indian aerospace major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) is its Indian partner.

The 30 tonne fighter jet will have very advanced avionics, stealth to increase survivability and enhanced lethality. The aircraft is expected to enter service in the 13th plan (2017-2022) period around 2019. So far, the Indian side has put aside $250 million for the Preliminary Design Contract phase. India will be responsible for developing software for on-board computer systems, aircraft self-defence systems, and a host of other important components.

While India is developing its own two seater version of the FGFA, Russia's version is single seater jet. The IAF alone plans to acquire 214 of the combat jets and the option to acquire more has been kept open. The IAF is looking for 166 single seater and 48 twin-seater versions of the aircraft. IAF Chief in the review meeting would apprise Russians about his requirements in the designs of FGFA, sources said.

The HAL has also signed a tripartite general contract with Russia for the MTA project. HAL and UAC-TA have proposed to design, develop and produce the multi-role transport aircraft in the 15-20 tonne class, jointly by the Indian and Russian agencies 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.

Besides FGFA and MTA, the IAF Chief will also be raising the issue of malfunctioning ‘fly-by-wire’ system of the Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs resulting in crashes.

Soon, a slice of India on US military aircraft

Hyderabad will soon be put on the world defence map as the Tata Advanced Systems unit will start churning out the spare parts for the US special operation aircraft C-130 Js, presently in service of 15 countries.

The factory will become operational over a year after the Tata Advanced Systems entered a Joint Venture with the US aerospace major Lockheed Martin. Lockheed Martin had supplied six C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the contract mandated it to invest 30 percent of the deal within the country.

“The factory will be manufacturing replacement centre wing boxes and every tail section, on every new C-130 J sold around the world. Beginning August all the C-130 Js sold to any country will be built in Hyderabad,” Lockheed Martin’s India head Roger M. Rose said.

Designed for special operations, the four-engine aircraft is equipped to take the troops behind the enemy lines enabling to strike them hard. Capable of operating from a short runway, the aircraft can also operate in pitch dark conditions.

Tata Advanced Systems hold 74 percent stakes in this JV and Lockheed retains 26 percent – the prescribed Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in the defence sector. Tata Advanced Systems is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons focused on providing integrated solutions for aerospace, defence, homeland security and disaster management.

“This is our first JV in India. These are both major components in an aircraft and this strengthens our foothold in the Indian defence market as well,” said Roger, while beaming about the fact that the firm delivered six C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to the IAF well before the deadline. The IAF had signed the $1billion deal for the six aircraft in 2008.  The Lockheed Martin will be integrating these aero-structures and supplying it global customers.

The Factory is being set up in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Adibhatla near Hyderabad along with its two other JVs. Tata Advanced Systems had earlier entered a JV with Sikorsky Aerospace Services to manufacture helicopter cabins within a unit set up with an investment of Rs. 1,000 crore. It will be manufacturing the cabins for all S-92 helicopters here.

Another of its JV with Israeli Air Force Technologies named NOVA has been allotted 30 acres land in the area.