Bengaluru: An indigenously upgraded version of advanced jet trainer, Hawk-i, will be offered to the Indian Air Force (IAF) soon, says Mr T. Suvarna Raju, Chairman and Managing Director, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL).
He told the media at Aero India 2017 the trainer was upgraded with a budget of Rs 200 crore and in a proactive manner without waiting for a request from the IAF. He flew a sortie onboard the trainer at the Air Force Station, Yelahanka, on Friday. The aircraft was piloted by Wing Commander Pratyush Awasti. The advanced version was unveiled by HAL on the eve of the air show in Bengaluru. It is equipped with indigenous Mission Computer in dual redundant configuration, Embedded Virtual Training System (EVTS), Softnet Radio and Cockpit Human Machine Interface (HMI).
Mr Suvarna Raju said the HTT-40, which made its debut at Aero India 2017, will be ready for initial operational clearance (IOC) next year with limited series production (LSP) set to commence end of 2018. The IAF’s requirement for this all-metal two-seater basic trainer has been estimated at 106, he added.
The CMD said HAL has received inquiries from some countries for HTT-40, but declined to elaborate on the issue. Meanwhile, HAL has been chosen by SAAB, a Swedish aerospace major, to maintain the electronic warfare self-protection system for variants of Dhruv helicopter flown by the IAF and the Army Aviation Corps.
“Our South African subsidiary (Saab Grintek Defence) has signed $8.5-million (Rs 57 crore) contract with HAL’s Avionics Division to maintain our Integrated Defensive Aids Suite (IDAS) system under technology transfer,” said Saab in a release at the air show.
As an integrated defence aids system, the IDAS defends a military aircraft from attacks by surface-to-surface and air-to-air missiles and guided anti-aircraft artillery. “The contract also provides for supply and commissioning of test infrastructure at HAL’s Hyderabad unit with documentation and training of its personnel at our Centurion facility in South Africa and Hyderabad,” said Saab Grintek’s Chief Executive Officer Trevor Raman in the release.
The technology transfer programme under the two-year contract will qualify HAL’s Hyderabad division as Saab’s IDAS repair facility. “The export deal augurs well for manufacturing, transfer of skills and building a partnership in line with the ‘Make in India’ initiative,” added Mr Raman.
