Bengaluru, March 16: A Sukhoi for India’s Aviation Capital -- Bengaluru? If the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has its way, an aircraft that can reach supersonic speeds would enter Bengaluru’s celebrated list of fighters enjoying permanent residency.
Sources confirm to OneIndia that the DRDO has already moved a paper to acquire a supersonic aircraft that will act as a FTB (Flying Test Bed).
A committee has already been set up to look into the possibilities of acquiring the FTB. In addition to members from the DRDO, the committee has representatives from the Indian Air Force and HAL. While Sukhoi is leading the fray, the advantages of MiG 29 are also being considered by the committee.
DRDO officials say that the modification work on Sukhoi done for launching the air version of BrahMos will come handy for DRDO.
“The BrahMos missile weighs around 2.5 tonnes while a Kaveri engine is around 1.22 tonnes. There are two pilots in a Su-30 MKI and one can easily monitor the engine and independently operate it,” the official said.
The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has decided to wind up the Kaveri engine (GTX-35VS) programme, signaling an end to a desi dream of equipping its own fighter jet with a home-grown power plant. Sources in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed to OneIndia on Tuesday that the DRDO has already moved a file recently seeking the closure of the ambitious engine development project undertaken by Bengaluru-based Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE).
The proposal now needs to get the approval of the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and finally the clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) – a process expected to take at least a year. The Kaveri project, which began in the mid-80s, was aimed at powering the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas.
GTRE has spent so far Rs 2,106 crore on the project so far and could only fly the engine for 73 hours on the IL-76 Flying Test Bed (FTB) in Russia. The delay in the project saw DRDO choosing the GE 404 engine for Tejas Mk-1 and GE 414 for Tejas Mk-II.
* GTRE gets additional funds
* Part of DRDO’s bold decision, confirms DG
* Years of hard work won’t go waste: GTRE Director
Bangalore: A 30-member-strong Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence is arriving in Bangalore on June 14 on a three-day visit. The team will have a critical review of the working of some of the defence installations in Bangalore and Mysore.
Among the activities of key units that would come under the team's scanner in Bangalore are: Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Gas Turbine Research Centre (GTRE) and Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR). In Mysore, the team would inspect Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL) and and Bharath Earth Movers Ltd (BEML). Interestingly, BEML is the only Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) the team would visit.
Sources tell Express that the team, in addition to the performance of each units, would assess self reliance and indigenisation in defence production apart from analysing the scope of outsourcing certain activities. The ADE is spearheading India's unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) efforts with Nishant and Rustom as its star products, while Lakshya, a pilot-less target aircraft, is already into production.
The team will also be shown the complete array of products of some of the Bangalore labs under the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). ADE has been entrusted with the task of showcasing some of key products of DRDO labs.
To a query as to how significant these visits by various defence teams are viewed, sources said: “Gone are the days that one could get away by arranging some displays and organising guided tours. Today, with so much of focus being given on self-reliance, the MPs are keen to know about our capabilities.”
On June 15, the team is likely to be given a flight display of Light Combat Aircraft (Tejas) at old airport. “The team members will hold discussions with ADA officials to take stock of the progress of Tejas project. A detailed brief on the Kaveri engine project is also being prepared, ahead of the flight,” sources said.
This is the second visit by a top-level Ministry of Defence team in the recent months with a 10-member team undertaking a six-day study tour in April.
Bangalore: India's attempts towards achieving self-reliance in aeronautics is only possible if an autonomous body is formed to design, develop, test and produce aero-engines. Batting for such an initiative is K Tamilmani, Chief Executive, Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC) – a DRDO facility in Bangalore. Speaking to Express, he said that India can claim to be an aerospace nation only through an amalgamation of the competence available in private and government sectors. “Today rough estimates say that 4000 engines are needed for Advanced Light Helicopters and 500 engines for Intermediate Jet Trainers. These are low-thrust engines of 25 KN (Kilo Newtons. For engines we need material technology which are not critical and can be internally-outsourced. You need engines for 180 Light Combat Helicopters, 187 Light Utility Helicopters and many more. The marriage between R&D and the industry to meet the requirements is not happening,” Tamilmani said. Sighting that the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) has around 1000 technical people with expertise and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd's (HAL) Engine Division around 400-plus engineers, Tamilmani felt that their strengths need to be shared. “We have demonstrated our might by developing jet fuels starters, which starts the engine. We have also developed pilot-less target aircraft (PTA) engine for Lakshya. There are five engine test-beds with GTRE, while the Engine Division too has got the same facility. If the two teams are put together, then we will have doable targets,” he said. Justifying his views, the airworthiness expert said that with every engine that is imported, India will have to depend upon others for its maintenance and overhaul support. “We have now L&T, Godrej, MTR (Hyderabad) and other private companies supporting India's missile (including BrahMos) and Indian Space Research Organisation programmes. If we start the process of unifying our expertise, we can reduce our dependency on others,” Tamilmani said. He said India can never declare self-reliance in aeronautics without having state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, quality assurance and quality production of international standards. “We have not integrated our R&D and appropriate man power is not getting trained for induction. Some of the futuristic cruise missiles also requires engines. India has the capacity, teams, technology, demand and industry. We need to integrate them to be in the race,” Tamilmani said.
Kaveri's flight trial campaign is on at GFRI in Russia: Photo: Copyright@Tarmak007
| By Anantha Krishnan M.| AVIATION WEEK|
Bangalore | India|November 23, 2010 |
India’s Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) and Russia’s Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI) have conducted more flight trials of India’s Kaveri engine on a modified Flying Test Bed (FTB) IL-76 transport aircraft.
Mohan Rao, director of the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bangalore, told Aviation Week that flight data analysis from the first flight on Nov. 3 was submitted to GFRI officials, who presented a detailed report to Russia’s Ministry of Industries.
“Based on this report, we got the clearances for further flights. We had the second flight after a week for more than an hour in very similar conditions to the first flight,” Mohan said. “The engine was inspected again and all flight parameters were analyzed. During the second flight, we went up to 5 km. at 0.6 Mach and 4 km. at 0.4 Mach. We need to study the engine data and combustion stability.”
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Photo 1, 2 show the IL-76 with Kaveri during its take-off and landing on November 3, 2010. The remaining photos taken during Kaveri's flight trial campaign in Russia. The last 2 pics are at GTRE Bangalore. Photos: Copyright@Tarmak007
Scientists are superstitious. Especially when the going gets tough, you need all the luck under the Sun to hit the Bulls Eye. This piece brings to you some dressing room stories, when DRDO’s Kaveri engine created history in Russia. Kaveri fitted on to IL-76 – the modified Flying Test Bed (FTB) – had its successful maiden flight at Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI) on November 3, 2010. For over a decade or so, GTRE scientists faced a lot of criticism from the government agencies, Services, defense watchdogs, media and self-styled engine experts, for not delivering what was promised. The Kaveri engine thus became a joke and GRTE soon became a forgotten lab. And, India’s super-pride plane program – LCA – too moved ahead with a paradesi heart. “Yes, we had to face many challenges. While the world was laughing at us, we were putting that extra mile to make the engine fly. We admit the delays, but it’s unfair to forget our struggle and not to recognize our achievement,” says Mohan Rao, Director, GTRE. At the just-concluded Aviation Conclave 2010 in Hyderabad DRDO Chief Dr V.K. Saraswat said that DRDO branding will happen only with excellence. And, he ensured to pat Mohan and his boys at every opportunity he got during the conclave. While history was created, Mohan was tensed and was in the company of his colleagues waiting anxiously at GFRI. “This was the moment of my life. I prayed to God. I have done everything. My team has done. Now, the flight is about to take-off. I chanted the Gayatri Mantra. I was continuously chanting the mantra. I shouted… Take-off, take-off… The Russian friends screamed Athleshna (excellent),” Mohan Rao, said. Many mails came to Tarmak007 asking why the DRDO failed to celebrate Kaveri’s maiden flight, the way it ought to have. A point there, considering what the DRDO and GTRE had to undergo over Kaveri.One definitely needs to salute the spirit of GTRE scientists, who toiled hard to make Kaveri fly. May be, the need of the hour is more Gayatri mantras for the road ahead!
Barely a month after the DRDO announced that the Tejas Mk-11 will powered by GE-414 power plant, there's some good news for the devotees of desi defence products. The Kaveri engine has finally passed the critical tests onboard IL-76 in Russia on November 3 crossing a major hurdle towards certification.
Russian sources confirmed to Tarmak007 late on Wednesday night that the tests results were extremely positive. "This is a huge sigh of relief for the Indian side as the platform had its share of problems earlier. We are waiting for the final trial parameters, but I can confirm to you that the Indian engine has finally proved all necessary test points. It's a huge technologocal breakthrough for India," a source tells.
DRDO officials are tight-lipped about the development and didn't want to comment on the historic achievement on the even of Diwali. A formal announcement is expected to be out today/soon/any moment from Delhi.
The Indian government had earlier this August had announced in Parliament that the Kaveri engine testing under simulated altitude and forward speed conditions were completed successfully in February 2010. “The Kaveri has been integrated with an Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft at Gromov Flight Research Institute in Moscow for ground and flight tests. The engine tests under simulated altitude and forward speed conditions conducted in February 2010 [were] successful. Another engine has been integrated with IL-76 aircraft at Gromov Flight Research Institute, Moscow for ground and flight test which is expected to complete by October 2010. These two major milestones would make the engine certified for flight operations," Defense Minister A.K. Antony had told the Upper House of the Parliament on August 25, 2010. He had also even spelt out the reasons for the delay, then.
Finally, GTRE scientists and engineers couldn't have asked for a better Diwali gift, considering the non-stop battering they received from all corners, for the inordinate delay in developing Kaveri for Tejas.
For an earlier report on Kaveri engine on this blog & AW, hit:
UPDATE: 1 (A DRDO official press note issued at 4 pm today)
An official release shows Kaveri engine (covered) onboard an IL-76 positioned at the Gormov Flight Research Institute in Russia. Photo: DRDO
And, a flight for Kaveri finally…
(DRDO Press Release)
The indigenously designed and developed Kaveri Engine was successfully flight tested by DRDO on Wednesday, the 03rd Nov 2010 during the Flying Test Bed (FTB) Trials at Gromov Flight Research Institute (GFRI), Moscow, Russia. The engine running right from take-off to landing, flew for a period of over one hour up to at an altitude of 6000m at a speed of 0.6 mach in its maiden flight. The engine control, engine performance and engine health during the flight were found to be excellent. With this test, Kaveri Engine has completed a major milestone of the development program. During the coming months further 50-60 test flights will be carried out to mature the engine in terms of reliability, safety and airworthiness. These trials would pave the way for further flight trials of Kaveri Engine with a fighter aircraft.
An existing IL-76 aircraft was modified as a Flying Test Bed for this trial, with Kaveri engine replacing one of the four engines of the aircraft. The modifications included instrumentation required for trials as well as integration of mechanical, electrical and fuel system. The engine was controlled by the pilot from the cockpit. A number of taxi trials were carried out with Kaveri Engine integrated with the aircraft, before this maiden flight. The engine data was recorded in the aircraft as well as transmitted to ground station by telemetry.
A team of 20 scientists from GTRE (DRDO) have been working along with GFRI for these trials. Dr Prahlada, Distinguished Scientist & Chief Controller R&D (Aeronautics & Services Interaction) briefed the press about the significance of the first flight.
Kaveri engine is being developed for fighter aircrafts, at Gas Turbine Research Establishment, a DRDO laboratory based in Bangalore with the active support of several other DRDO labs, academic institutions and industry partners. During development phase, Kaveri engine has successfully completed various stages of development including component testing, safety tests, ground based engine tests, and endurance tests etc, both at GTRE as well as test facilities abroad.
By Anantha Krishnan M Express News Service Bangalore: Hit by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)'s investigatio...
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welcome to sree karthiyayani devi temple, one of the ancient places of workship in kerala. situated on the banks of the famous achankovil river, this temple, embedded with hundreds of eye-catching sculptures, was lately resurrected with the timely intervention of ASI after a prolonged legal battle by a group of well-wishers. it is located in kuttemperoor -- blogger's native -- in allappuzha district, kerala, south india. don't miss this enriching temple experience when you visit kerala, next. (click the image for a site visit.)
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