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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Savarkar remarks: Rahul Gandhi appears in Pune court via video link in defamation case, gets bail
Pune, Jan 10: A special court in Pune on Friday granted bail to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a defamation case related to his alleged objectionable remarks on Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar.
The MP/MLA court granted bail to the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha on a surety bond of Rs 25,000 after he appeared before it through video conferencing, his lawyer said.
Senior Congress leader Mohan Joshi stood as surety for Gandhi (54) before the court presided over by Amol Shinde, judicial magistrate (first class) and special judge for MP/MLA cases.
Advocate Milind Pawar, representing Gandhi, said soon after his client appeared before the court, they moved a bail application.
The judge allowed the plea and granted bail to the former Congress president on a surety bond of Rs 25000, he informed.
The advocate said the court also granted permanent exemption to the Lok Sabha MP from Rae Bareli from appearing before it.
The case was filed on a complaint by V D Savarkar's grandnephew Satyaki, who alleged Gandhi had made defamatory remarks against the Hindutva icon at a programme he attended in London in March 2023.
Earlier, advocate Sangram Kolhatkar, representing Satyaki Savarkar, objected to Gandhi's application seeking virtual appearance.
There was no provision that allows an accused to appear in court through video conferencing before securing bail, Kolhatkar argued.
The court, however, permitted Gandhi to attend the proceedings online.
Wearing a bottle green sweater, the Congress MP appeared before the court and stated his name when the judge asked for it.
The matter will be next heard on February 18.
As per the complaint, Gandhi, while speaking at the London event, stated that Savarkar had written in a book that he and five to six of his friends once beat up a Muslim man and he (Savarkar) felt happy.
According to the complaint, the freedom fighter had not written this anywhere and the Congress leader's remarks were aimed at defaming him.
At the time, the court had asked the Pune police to investigate the allegations and file a report.
The Vishrambaug police, after an inquiry, submitted that there was prima facie truth in the complaint.
Gandhi had skipped the previous court appearance on December 2 citing the winter session of Parliament which he was attending.
His lawyer Pawar had then assured that the opposition parliamentarian will appear in the court on January 10.
