HAL to manufacture first four LUHs by 2022-23 Govt
New Delhi Nov 29 PTI State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd HAL will manufacture four light utility helicopters LUHs under limited series production by 2022-23 according to the government Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt replying to a question in Rajya Sabha on Monday also said that another eight LUHs will be built by 2023-24Out of the initial quota of four choppers two each will go to the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force while the two forces will get four LUHs each from the second batch of the limited series production he saidThis would be followed by the manufacture of series production SP of the helicopters by the HAL Bhatt saidEarlier this month the defence ministry approved the procurement of 12 LUH from the HAL for around Rs 1500 croreThe LUH is designed and developed as a replacement for ageing fleets of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters being operated by the armed forcesIndigenously-developed LUH is a new generation helicopter in the 3-tonne category that has state-of-the-art technology features like a glass cockpit with multi-function displays MFD and is powered by a single turboshaft engineTo a separate question on the Kaveri fighter jet engine programme Bhatt said it has achieved a higher technology readiness level TRL in many critical technology domainsHe said nine full prototype engines and four core engines were built adding 3217 hours of engine testing was conducted adding completed altitude tests and flying test bed FTB trials were carried outThis is the first time that an indigenously developed military gas turbine engine was flight tested he addedThe minister said a total of Rs 2105 crore was allocated for the programme out of the amount spent is Rs 2035 croreThe Kaveri engine project was given approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 1989 The project was primarily rolled out for Indias Light Combat Aircraft LCA programmeAt present the LCA Tejas is integrated with an imported engine However in future it is proposed to develop indigenous engines for powering our own aircraft such as LCA variants and AMCA Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft in association with an international engine house Bhatt saidHe said the technological capabilities built through the Kaveri engine project will be utilisedThe minister said the Kaveri engine in the present architecture cannot be integrated into the LCA TejasLCA Tejas Flight Operational Clearance FOC configuration demands higher thrust than the intended engine requirement Hence the Kaveri in the present architecture cannot be integrated In order to induct with LCA Tejas a modified engine version is required he said PTI MPB RT RT
New Delhi Nov 29 PTI State-run aerospace behemoth Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd HAL will manufacture four light utility helicopters LUHs under limited series production by 2022-23 according to the government Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt replying to a question in Rajya Sabha on Monday also said that another eight LUHs will be built by 2023-24Out of the initial quota of four choppers two each will go to the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force while the two forces will get four LUHs each from the second batch of the limited series production he saidThis would be followed by the manufacture of series production SP of the helicopters by the HAL Bhatt saidEarlier this month the defence ministry approved the procurement of 12 LUH from the HAL for around Rs 1500 croreThe LUH is designed and developed as a replacement for ageing fleets of Cheetah and Chetak helicopters being operated by the armed forcesIndigenously-developed LUH is a new generation helicopter in the 3-tonne category that has state-of-the-art technology features like a glass cockpit with multi-function displays MFD and is powered by a single turboshaft engineTo a separate question on the Kaveri fighter jet engine programme Bhatt said it has achieved a higher technology readiness level TRL in many critical technology domainsHe said nine full prototype engines and four core engines were built adding 3217 hours of engine testing was conducted adding completed altitude tests and flying test bed FTB trials were carried outThis is the first time that an indigenously developed military gas turbine engine was flight tested he addedThe minister said a total of Rs 2105 crore was allocated for the programme out of the amount spent is Rs 2035 croreThe Kaveri engine project was given approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security in 1989 The project was primarily rolled out for Indias Light Combat Aircraft LCA programmeAt present the LCA Tejas is integrated with an imported engine However in future it is proposed to develop indigenous engines for powering our own aircraft such as LCA variants and AMCA Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft in association with an international engine house Bhatt saidHe said the technological capabilities built through the Kaveri engine project will be utilisedThe minister said the Kaveri engine in the present architecture cannot be integrated into the LCA TejasLCA Tejas Flight Operational Clearance FOC configuration demands higher thrust than the intended engine requirement Hence the Kaveri in the present architecture cannot be integrated In order to induct with LCA Tejas a modified engine version is required he said PTI MPB RT RT
