HAL inaugurates its third Tejas Jet assembly line
On Friday, the Tejas light combat aircraft (LCA) in Bengaluru received the inauguration of a third production line by Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane.
Currently, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL) has two assembly lines for LCA in Bengaluru. These assembly lines enable HAL to produce 16 Tejas fighters annually without
According to the chairman and managing director of HAL, C B Ananthakrishnan, the company will have the capability to increase the production capacity of Tejas Mark 1A from 16 to 24 aircraft yearly with the introduction of the new line.
The Indian Air Force has ordered 40 Tejas Mark 1 and 83 Tejas Mark 1A fighters from HAL, and it is crucial to expedite their production to free up the Tejas assembly lines for the manufacturing of six squadrons of Tejas Mark 2 aircraft. According to senior officials at HAL and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the production of Tejas Mark 2 is not expected to commence until 2027-28.
The process of creating the Tejas Mark 2 will require the replacement of the current General Electric F-404 engine with the more powerful GE F-414, as well as upgrades to the avionics and weaponry. It is estimated that it will take until 2025 to complete the prototype development, followed by an additional two to three years for flight-testing and production preparations.
At present, HAL is striving to retain the production lines engaged until 2028 by fulfilling the IAF's request for 83 Tejas Mark I-A
The Mark 1A is expected to have greater speed and maneuverability compared to the existing model.
To improve the speed and agility of the current Mark I fighter, the Mark 1A is proposed. The development of this fighter would require the reduction of 800 kg in weight, specifically in areas such as the landing gear which are currently designed to be overly robust for safety reasons.
HAL has suggested removing 300 kg of weight that is currently spread out across the Mark I in order to create a more evenly balanced fighter.
Sukhoi-3OMKI overhauled
Today, the Indian defence secretary presented the Indian Air Force with the 100th Sukhoi-3OMKI fighter plane after it had undergone repair and overhaul at HAL's Nashik Division.
The speaker praised the actions of HAL in creating a ROH center for the Su-30MKI and a new production line for LCA manufacturing, acknowledging the significance of the Indian government's Aatmanirbhar Bharat policies and HAL's important role in implementing them.
Despite facing supply chain problems due to the present geopolitical situation, HAL's Nashik unit has successfully reached the highest capacity for overhauling 20 Sukhoi-30MKI planes annually.
In 2014, the Nashik division established a unique ROH facility for their 272 Sukhoi-30 MKI aircraft, making it the first of its kind worldwide. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), with the help of the Indian Air Force (IAF), regulatory bodies, and private industries, gained expertise in ROH technology after producing and repairing MiG-series and Sukhoi-3OMKI fighters.
Girish Linganna
Aerospace & Defence Analyst
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Karnataka Assembly passes bill on Palace Grounds amid opposition protest
Bengaluru, Mar 6 (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Thursday passed the Bangalore Palace (Utilisation and Regulation of Land) Bill, reaffirming state ownership over 472 acres and 16 guntas of land here, amid protests by the opposition BJP.
During the discussion, Karnataka Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil said the state government would have to provide Rs 200 crore worth of Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) for each acre of land, which means that for 15 acres, Rs 3,000 crore worth of TDR would be issued.
“If we accept it, then this 2-km stretch of road will become the costliest road in the world. If we accept it then how are we going to develop the city in later stages? How will you carry out development works?” asked Patil.
He also pointed out that this question was raised not only under the Congress government but also during the previous BJP regime.
However, the BJP-led cabinet has opposed the project.
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“Suppose we agree to it then, what will be the valuation of the 472 acres? It will be lakhs and lakhs of crores of rupees. Can we accept?” Patil wondered.
The Minister said the government had previously exercised its executive powers to issue an ordinance, which was approved by the Governor. Now the government is bringing a bill with two amendments.
“In this bill, we have made provisions either to develop or drop the road development work,” Patil explained.
However, BJP state president B Y Vijayendra and BJP MLA Arvind Bellad opposed the move, alleging that the government was targetting Yaduveer Krishna Datta Chamaraja Wadiyar, the scion of the Mysuru royal family, and the BJP MP from Mysuru-Kodagu constituency out of political vendetta.
“We talk of 472 acres of Mysuru Maharaja but here there are many Maharajas who too own 400 acres, 500 acres and thousands of acres of land, which is known to everyone,” Bellad said.
He slammed the Congress government, saying political power should not be misused for personal vendetta.
“Why (the then Deputy Chief Minister) Siddaramaiah brought the law in 1996 pertaining to the Bangalore Palace? Why are you setting eyes on the Bangalore Palace?” he asked.
Vijayendra charged that Wadiyar won the election on BJP ticket so the state government realised that it should acquire it.
“This bill has been brought for political vengeance. We are not discussing whether Rs 3,000 crore is exorbitant or not but the moment Yaduveer became MP, the state government woke up. You should be ashamed. This house should not be used for political vendetta,” he said.
Intervening, Minister Priyank Kharge said Vijayendra should not have raised it because the intention behind building the road was noble.
According to him, the BJP too had the same plan when it was in power.
He sought to know whether thousands of crores of rupees be spent on a road which should have cost significantly less.
In response, BJP MLA B A Basavaraj (Byrathi) said issuing TDR will not be a burden on the state government and appealed to the ruling Congress to reconsider its stance.
Minister Ramalinga Reddy too explained that the Karnataka government acquired the entire land way back in 1996.
The Mysuru royal family went to the High Court, which gave ruling in favour of the state government. The royal family then approached the Supreme Court, where the case is still going on, the Minister pointed out.
“The final judgment is pending in the SC to decide whether the acquisition was right or wrong. If the SC says it’s the royal family’s property then let it be so. If the order is in the state government’s favour then we can take a decision. The bill is only about it,” Reddy explained.
Speaker U T Khader then called for a voice vote and the bill was passed by the Assembly amidst opposition BJP’s discontent.
