By Staff Correspondent
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the premier aerospace and defence company in India, achieved a momentous milestone as the Defence Secretary, Giridhar Aramane, inaugurated the third production line for Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) and handed over the 100th Sukhoi-30 MKI Repair and Overhaul (ROH) aircraft to the Indian Air Force (IAF) at HAL’s Nashik Division.
The ceremony was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including Air Vice Marshal Sarin, VSM, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Eng A), Indian Air Force, Saket Chaturvedi, CEO (MiG Complex), and C.B. Ananthakrishnan, Chairman and Managing Director, HAL, among others, marks a significant achievement for HAL’s cutting-edge capabilities and unwavering commitment to self-reliance.
Def Secy Aramane lauded HAL’s relentless efforts in overcoming challenges and establishing a state-of-the-art ROH facility for Su-30 MKI and a new production line for LCA manufacturing. He acknowledged the critical role of HAL in meeting the nation’s security needs and applauded the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-Reliant India) policies, which place HAL at the forefront of indigenous defence production.
“HAL will be producing more in the coming years. Build more systems, come out with new concepts, new platforms for future growth,” remarked Aramane, urging HAL to take up new initiatives, aggressively compete in the defence market, and explore emerging areas such as unmanned vehicles in high demand in the country.
Aramane stressed the significance of Initiatives, Innovation, and Excellence while emphasising the need for an unwavering focus on performance. During his visit, Aramane gained firsthand insights into HAL’s advanced capabilities as he toured the LCA Assembly Complex, Su-30 ROH Flight Hangar, and Final Assembly Hangar.
C.B. Ananthakrishnan, CMD, HAL, highlighted that the new production line for LCA would significantly enhance the company’s production capacity of LCA MK1A, from 16 to 24 aircraft per year, showcasing HAL’s commitment to meeting the growing demands of the defence sector.
Despite supply chain challenges in the current geopolitical scenario, HAL’s Nashik Division has achieved a remarkable peak overhaul capacity of 20 Su-30 aircraft per year, a testament to HAL’s perseverance and expertise. HAL already operates two LCA manufacturing facilities in Bengaluru, further exemplifying its robust capabilities and unwavering commitment to indigenous production.
HAL’s Nashik Division established the Su-30 MKI Repair and Overhaul (ROH) facility in 2014, the first of its kind globally, to cater to the operational requirements of the Indian Air Force. Leveraging its extensive experience in manufacturing MiG-series and Su-30 MKI aircraft and subsequent overhaul of MiG-series aircraft, HAL successfully mastered the technology with invaluable support from the IAF, regulatory bodies, and private industries.
Several sister Divisions of HAL have been actively involved in the ROH activities, showcasing HAL’s collaborative approach. As part of its future plans, HAL aims to reduce its dependency on Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) by indigenising a majority of components required for ROH within the next 3-5 years, reaffirming its steadfast commitment to self-reliance and indigenous capabilities.
HAL’s recent achievements in inaugurating the third LCA production line and handing over the 100th Su-30 MKI ROH aircraft to the IAF are a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and self-reliance. HAL’s achievements not only contribute to the nation’s defence.
