LCA fighter planes production will be increased for timely deliveries to IAF: HAL CMD Sunil

HAL increases LCA Mk1A production with new line in Hyderabad, emphasizing indigenous technology and partnership with VEM Technologies.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director D. K. Sunil said that the production of the indigenous fighter aircraft Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1A will be increased to ensure timely deliveries to the Indian Air Force (IAF) with the establishment of a fourth production line here in Hyderabad.

The production line has been established by its industry partner — VEM Technologies — who had also handed over its first Central Fuselage (CF) Assembly for the LCA Mk1A to him in the presence of Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar, LCA-Tejas General Manager Abdul Salam and others at a special ceremony here on Friday.

Mr. Sunil said the first CF handover marks a significant milestone as it will be in addition to the two existing lines in HAL-Bengaluru and another one in HAL-Nashik. HAL has a clear road map on how to go about ramping up production for LCA and also in developing Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), helicopters, and other wide range of products in association with its industry partners. The future is very bright as the emphasis is on developing indigenous technologies as was exemplified during the recent operations, said the CMD.

VEM Technologies chairman and managing director V. Venkat Raju said the firm will be ready to deliver one CF Assembly for the LCA Mk1A every month by the end of the year to help HAL increase production post-integration of other parts. Apart from a dedicated hangar with two assembly setups, a third one with a robotic machinery will help speed up the manufacture of 478 kilo CF, which is made of 1,595 composite metal components, a majority manufactured in house.

Mr. Raju said the firm is also working on fuel drop tank and pylon assemblies for LCA Tejas and will soon be ready for the fighter aircraft with Infra Red Search and Track System (IRST) as well as a range of generators, post successful qualification. A 5 lakh sq.ft Integrated Defence Systems (IDS) facility is also being built, he said and sought more projects from HAL, including major assemblies for helicopters and other programmes.

Defence production is growing at a 10% rate and partnership with the industry — private and public — is vital for indigenisation of systems, said Mr. Sanjeev Kumar. “Security and sovereignty are important and cannot be achieved without indigenous manufacturing and supply of spare parts that meet the requirements of the armed forces. It also linked to the R&D efforts,” he said and hailed the partnership between HAL and VEM Tech in accelerating the production of LCA Mk1A. Quality Control DG Sanjay Chawla, Chairman and Managing Director of BDL Commodore A Madhav Rao (Retd) and Director of Aerospace and Defence P.A. Praveen were also present.