TALKATHON: Projects are bigger than people; Tejas story will inspire many generations: Subramanyam

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Bengaluru, June 30: P S Subramanyam, one of the top-notch military brains in the country says that the lessons learned from developing Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will act as a guiding force for all future fighter programmes.

In an exclusive interview to Mathrubhumi English, Subramanyam, the outgoing Director of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Programme Director (Combat Aircraft), said that he and his team saw through the Tejas project through some of the most challenging times.

The Distinguished Scientist retired June 30 after being at the helm of affairs of ADA from 2005. Excerpts.

MB: Your tenure will probably go down in the history of Indian military aviation as the most challenging one. Isn’t it an irony that you had to leave the project just months ahead of its Final Operational Clearance (FOC)?

PSS: The Mk-1 configuration aircraft started coming after I took over in 2005. The challenge started with PV-2, which is the present Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) configuration aircraft. In the last 10 years there were major transformation in the aircraft and systems. I would say 80 per cent changes took place in the last 10 years in terms of design and systems. 

Now, FOC is on track and I am happy that it will be achieved in the next six to nine months. Remember that projects are bigger than people. There are capable hands to take the programme forward. I am not running away and will be always available to offer any help.

MB: So what are the major changes to Tejas in the last 10 years?

PSS: Well, there are many. There were changes to the front fuselage, cockpit layout, radome, windshield and canopy. Almost 80 per cent avionics changed and even the wings underwent modifications due to R-73 missile. The rear fuselage too had to be changed to accommodate GE404-IN20 engine. Even the MMR (Multi-Mode Radar) underwent changes after the indigenous effort to make one did not succeed. So we had to go for Israeli Elta Radar. Even the fuel system got changes for better CG (Centre of Gravity) management. New Communication systems too came in. Fourteen aircraft were built during my regime and around 2500 flights achieved in 10 years. Tejas story will inspire generations to come.

MB: What was the most satisfying moment during your command?

PSS: I would say the handing over of SP-1 to the Indian Air Force, the first Series Production aircraft, is the most memorable moment. I can proudly say I saw through the programme end to end.

MB: During your tenure, there were many attempts to close the project. How did you manage to overcome those pressures?

PSS: Okay. We had faced many unexpected encounters while taking Tejas project forward. In 2007, we came to a situation which almost was like to be or not to be. There were several meetings held to close the programme. From our end, we gave confidence to the government and convinced them that it is a doable project. There were occasions in the past that many wanted to merge ADA with some other organisations. We faced all the rough weather bravely.

MB: Who are the people who were behind these ‘undercover operations?’

PSS: They were not undercover operations, but open attempts. Names don’t matter as we have come a great distance ahead successfully.

MB: We understand that the FOC is likely to spill over to next year?

PSS: The programme has come this far and we are confident of achieving the FOC by March 2016. The current delays are just passing clouds and we will have access to all hardware within a month. Nothing can stop achieving FOC now.

MB: What was it like handling multiple agencies, which had different command and structure?

PSS: Interesting one (Laughs). I am not sure whether we have any other national programme running with so many stakeholders associated with it. It made me a better leader. Barring ADA, I had no control over any of the stakeholders in the programme. Still, I got the support of everyone, which I am proud of.

MB: Media has been mostly very critical of the programme, but you never came out countering them.

PSS: (Laughs) If I had to that, who would have run the programme? I believe that everyone has a job to do and I did mine. The media never had the right appreciation of the time and cost of the programme. Every time a new figure came out along with a new set of timelines.

With Rs 7500 crore, we made 14 aircraft and also set up a production line. Isn’t it far superior than the expenditure twice incurred in any other programme in the world? Honestly, we were ever affected by any media reports.

MB: What are your immediate plans?

PSS: I want to get connected with the youngsters. I will visit universities and talk to engineering students. I want to share with them the Tejas story. In the next 10 years, India should be second to none in military aviation. If aviation needs to grow, we need to introspect our position in science and technology today. I have already set a blueprint in my mind to target youngsters.

In the last 10 years, I have not gone for any vacation. Even Sundays were working days. Probably, now I will get some time to listen to some old Hindi and English songs. 

MB: Songs like…

PSS: My all-time favourite number is Mary Hopkin’s -- Those were the days my friend…

Mathrubhuimi English

We survived strong moves to close Tejas project in 2007: Subramanyam

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Bengaluru, June 30: Outgoing Director of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Programme Director (Combat Aircraft) P S Subramanyam says that there were massive efforts by a section to close the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas project in 2007.

The Distinguished Scientist and the man who spearheaded the project for the last 10 years, was speaking to this Correspondent, probably his last interview to the media as the Tejas boss.

Subramanyam, retired from the services today after attending an official farewell organized by Team ADA at its Bengaluru facility near Old Airport Road.

The soft-spoken man hailing from Vijayawada, spearheaded the programme from 2005, after taking over the reins of ADA from M B Verma.

Subramanyam is the second largest serving chief of ADA (10 years), after Dr Kota Harinarayana, who had served the project for 16 years till 2002.

We bravely retrieved the project: “Yes, I can tell you that we had to wade through several pressures while taking this project forward. In 2007, the programme saw one of its worst periods. It was almost like to be or not to be. I can proudly say that we bravely retrieved the project and gave the shape it is in now,” Subramanyam said.

He said there were several meetings held virtually to close the programme. “I stood ground and gave the confidence to the government that it is a doable project and we will deliver it on time. The rest is history and we never looked back,” he added.

Admitting that the ‘2007 project closer move’ came as a jerk to the team, Subramanyam said neither he nor his team ran away scared.

“Yes, we were shaken, but we knew we had a challenging task on hand. In the next two years (2007 to 2009) we demonstrated the capabilities of stores, sensors and weapon integration.

He also revealed that there were several occasions in the past that many wanted to merge ADA with some other organisations.

“So, while taking on the technology challenges of LCA, I has the head of ADA had to deal with other issues as well,” he added.

FOC will be in by March 2016: He refused to name the people who were acting against Tejas project and ADA during 2007. “Names don’t matter now as we have moved on. Let’s focus on the current status of the project. Nothing can stop the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) completion now. By 2016 March, the FOC will be done,” he said.

When asked about the most challenging task he had to undertake as the Tejas project chief, the NIT Warangal top brain said: “I had no command on any of the stakeholders in the programme, barring ADA. Yet, I managed to get the support of everyone, which is what I am proud of.”

He said the media never had the correct appreciation of the time and cost of the programme.

“With Rs 7500 crore making 14 aircraft and establishing a production line, is far superior than the expenditure twice incurred in any other programme of the world,” Subramanyam added.

OneIndia

Hunt on to pick top brain to head Tejas programme

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Bengaluru, June 28: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has begun the hunt for identifying a new man to head Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA). This follows the impending retirement of P S Subramanyam, one of the longest serving bosses of ADA, on June 30.

A Distinguished Scientist, Subramanyam is currently the Programme Director (Combat Aircraft) & Director ADA. He was made the head of ADA in 2005.

Sources tell OneIndia that the DRDO has already set up a Search Committee headed by eminent scientist Dr Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre.

Seventy-six year old Dr Aatre, an active member in various aerospace forums now, is the former DRDO Chief and Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister. 

The search committee also has DRDO’s senior-most Director General (Aero) Dr K Tamilmani among others.

Purely going by the seniority, work experience, project handling capabilities, and relationship with users, Cmde C D Balaji (Retd), Project Director LCA (Navy), should be the natural choice. 

R Swaminathan, (Technology Director), General System, ADA, is another top brain capable of running the show.

Full report here: http://bit.ly/1BLzOPE

#MissionParivarthan: http://bit.ly/1BLxVSW

Tejas lands on little Chandan’s lap as prayers pour in for speedy recovery

By Anantha Krishnan M

https://twitter.com/writetake

India’s Light Combat Aircraft Tejas on Monday flew into the heart of little Chandan, the ‘young pilot’ currently waging a valiant battle against cancer. From today, Chandan will have the inspiring company of a Tejas model, thanks to the quick response from its creators. The little boy had expressed his desire to own a plane model in November last.

OneIndia’s special report on Chandan, published on February 1, 2015 (http://www.oneindia.com/feature/oneindia-special-only-prayers-can-save-little-pilot-chandan-1639735.html), grabbed the attention of P S Subramanyam, Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) Director, spearheading the Tejas programme.

Subramanyam is said to have read the boy’s report on his phone while travelling for a meeting at the DRDO HQ in Delhi today. “I was browsing through the Google Alerts on my email and found this report with the Indian Air Force tag. It was a very moving report and I was disappointed to know that Chandan had to wait for this long for a plane model,” Subramanyam told OneIndia over the phone from Delhi.

* Happy Chandan’s small wish is fulfilled: Tejas Chief

* Model handed over in an ambulance

* Chandan manages a smile amidst pain

* Lakhs of online readers pray for brave fighter

Read the full report on OneIndia, here: http://bit.ly/1EZE23i

Tejas set to begin high-altitude trials in Leh

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: The Final Operational Clearance (FOC) campaign of Light Combat Aircraft Tejas is set to gain momentum with the high altitude trials scheduled this week in Leh. Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) Director P.S. Subramanyam told Express on Tuesday that during the Leh trials, the aircraft engine will be started at lower than -10 (minus Ten) degree Celsius. "We will also evaluate the aircraft performance at low temperature and high altitude. This time, we need to also test the performance of various sensors at the hilly terrain," Subramanyam said.
Only one aircraft is participating during the current trials with ground support teams already being positioned at Nasik, Pathankot and Leh. "These trails will not exceed more than a week. We have the next phase of weapon trials in Jamnagar, scheduled in March," the ADA chief said. He said the number of test flights of Tejas dipped in January owing to the preparatory phase for the FOC campaign.
"Various activities for FOC have been initiated much before the Initial Operational Clearance (IOC) event in December 2013. Most of the FOC parameters that we need to achieve have reached the half-way mark," he said. Currently the aircraft from the Tejas flight-line are being upgraded to FOC configuration to undertake flight trials.
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd Chairman R K Tyagi said that production activities at the company's the Light Combat Aircraft (Production Group) unit are pacing ahead as per the plan. "The project progress is being monitored on a daily basis now. We have completed the wings of the first series production (SP-1) aircraft and it has come out with nil deviations," Tyagi said. HAL is mandated to deliver SP-1 in the next three months.
In the FOC phase so far, the aircraft engine was switched on using a jet fuel starter three consecutive times (three times in a row), as mandated by the Indian Air Force (IAF). A rain-proof test was done on the limited series production (LSP-7) aircraft. The aircraft also was subjected to brake tests, while the integration work of the underbelly drop tank has begun at the HAL facility. HAL has also begun training of IAF technicians on the aircraft ahead of the Tejas squadron formation.

Copyright@The New Indian Express

SPOTTED: Amidst the crowd, ADA master silently watches the Tejas display!

Aeronautical Development Agency boss P S Subramanyam watching the
Tejas display on the last day of Aero India 2013. Photo: Jithendra M

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: For Pinjala Siva Subramanyam, the boss of Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), the just-concluded Aero India 2013, was in many ways an emotional one. The soft-spoken aerospace brain took some time out on the last day of the show at the Yehalanka Air Force Station on Sunday -- to be part of the crowd, unnoticed. When City Express spotted the white-bearded man amidst the plane-crazy visitors, he was on the phone speaking with his ground crew on the opposite side of the runway.

“In another 10 minutes Tejas will take-off. It’s in many ways a special moment for me,” Subramanyam said, amidst ear-splitting noise of an American transport aircraft, which landed after finishing the display. In couple of minutes a Limited Series Production (LSP-2) aircraft from Tejas flightline took to the skies. When the commentator screamed ‘India’s Tejas’, the visitors went berserk in unison, adding more madness to the plane carnival. But P.S., as he is fondly known among his close circles, was cool. His eyes locked on to the skies watching Tejas perform some stunning maneuvers.

He said ADA captured the imagination of the visitors by exhibiting the technologies that were developed in the last two decades for the Tejas programme. “We have arrived and the people have experienced our strengths. It’s not an overnight exercise,” Subramanyam said. The simulated environment of terrain inside the ADA hall floored the visitors, including Defence Minister A K Antony, who is said to have asked his men to have the same script for an exhibition in Kerala.

He said the youngsters and students were impressed by the Tejas simulators at the show. “Our main aim this time was to give maximum exposure to the student community. Special teams were formed to explain the salient features of combat fighter technologies. We hope some of these talented brains will join our future programmes,” Subramanyam said.

As Tejas touched down, the ADA captain was ready to get going for the day’s last appointment. “During the 2015 show, I am confident that a production variant of Tejas will fly here. Tejas will be in IAF Squadron colours, then,” he said, adjusting his beard and disappearing into the crowd.

Copyright@City Express, The New Indian Express

Tejas LSP-8 systems as per IOC standards: ADA chief

By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service

Bangalore: The limited series production (LSP-8) version of India’s Light Combat Aircraft Tejas, is said to have incorporated all features sought by the Indian Air Force (IAF), so that it qualifies for the initial operational clearance (IOC). Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) head P.S. Subramaniam tells Express that Tejas LSP-8, the last aircraft from the test flightline, is tailor-made as per the pilot’s needs. “All designs are final. All systems are as per the final IOC standards and have matured with the aircraft,” Subramaniam said.
He said building of LSP-8 aircraft, its first flights and subsequent tests will be the last stepping stone towards the programme entering the series production phase. The IAF has placed an initial order of 20 Tejas. The ADA boss said that LSP-8 has pressure-refueling capabilities (the entire aircraft can be filled with fuel just in 5-6 minutes as against the 30-minutes taken for gravity filling). “Tejas LSP-8 is an all-weather, day and night capability fighter and with very maintenance-friendly features. It’s an aircraft built based on the needs expressed by Test pilots,” he said.
He said the pilot-vehicle interface features supported by avionics software are excellent in LSP-8 and as desired by the users. “The new aircraft is very robust with reliable flight control system. The aircraft has good compatibility with ground support and ground-handling equipment. I can now confidentially say that all that is required for an aircraft to get inducted into the Service is built into LSP-8,” Subramaniam said.
When asked whether the induction of Tejas into the IAF will further slip, considering that the IAF pilots might come back with more requirements after the user evaluation trials, the ADA chief said: “The feedback what we are getting from the Test pilots who have flown Tejas is excellent. Every stage we had pilots closely working with us.”                   Copyright@The New Indian Express

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CEMILAC set to complete Tejas' certification by Dec 27; it will signal the start of a key phase, ADA chief P.S. tells BDAJF

| By Anantha Krishnan M. | AVIATION WEEK |

Bangalore |  India | September 14, 2010 |

India has set a Dec. 27 deadline to complete the certification process for its Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA)

According to P.S. Subramanyam, director for combat aircraft at the Aeronautical Development Agency, the deadline was set to make sure Tejas enters its much-awaited initial operational clearance phase. The certification process is monitored by the Center for Military Airworthiness and Certification.

“We are at it, and close to 400 scientists and engineers are currently working on the certification program,” he says. “We need to consolidate all that we have done in the last 20 years and put it to the scrutiny of the certification agency. We have set ourselves a target to complete the certification process and December 27 will be a significant day for India’s military aviation program.”

Subramanyam spoke before a select group of defense correspondents during the official logo launch of the Bangalore Defense and Aerospace Journalists’ Forum.

 For the full story, please visit the Aviation Week link below:

http://www.aviationweek.com/india
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India Thought Leaders: ADA boss PS says Tejas' ownership among users have gone up; we have taken the blow, but we have delivered too

India’s Light Combat Aircraft (LCA-Tejas) program boss P.S. Subramanyam (above) and his pet metal bird Tejas performing a stunning manoeuvre (below). Photos: t-arch-20010

  By Anantha Krishnan M. | Bangalore, India | 
June 25, 2010 | DNA (India)

Tejas, India’s light combat aircraft (LCA), is finally giving goose bumps to thousands of engineers, designers, scientists and technocrats. The limited series production (LSP) platforms are hitting the sky like nobody’s business. There’s excitement in the air. There’s hope. And there’s a goal that’s just within their reach. Amidst all the news of the initial operational clearance (IOC) within sight and the near-services version configuration (LSP-4) flying recently, one man is calm and composed, for he knows the end of one journey is just the beginning of another. In a one-on-one with Aviation Week, as part of the India Thought Leaders (ITL) interview series, Program Director (Combat Aircraft) and Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) Director P.S. Subramanyam (known among close peers as P.S.), says the technological knowledge gained through the Tejas program is sure to make India a force to be reckoned with in all future military plane-making missions.

A.W.: No other program has received so much media bashing in addition to genuine concerns from your users. What was the motivational thread you adopted during these difficult times?

P.S.: I don’t want to comment on the media, though at times we did think of putting [in] a firefighting plan to counter one-sided remarks in the press. Later, we decided against it, knowing that it would divert our focus from the main goal. Yes, we had difficulties as we were attempting to do something that has never been done in this country. Yes, we slipped because we had to face many challenges from different quarters while mastering technologies. But don’t forget the fact that my team took the blow but finally delivered. Now, to the users. We understand their concerns and even they, too, are aware of our constraints. The project has definitely received a huge push after a project management team from IAF started functioning from ADA. They are the pacemakers for the program now and involved in every bit. This has also increased the ownership feeling among the users.

For the full interview, please visit
www.aviationweek.com/india

AVIATION WEEK: Tejas squadron to be rasied in Bangalore before moving to Sulur; LSP-3 & PV-3 back after successful hot-weather trials

By Anantha Krishnan M. | Aviation Week

Bangalore, India | June 14, 2010

The Indian Air Force (IAF) will form the first squadron of the light combat aircraft (LCA) Tejas in Bangalore next year before it is moved to Sulur, IAF Vice Chief Air Marshal P.K. Barbora tells AVIATION WEEK. (Sulur is located near Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.) The initial formation of the LCA squadron in Bangalore is primarily due to IAF’s proximity to the aircraft’s designer, the Aeronautical Development Agency; its manufacturer, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. (HAL); and IAF’s test pilots’ unit, the Aircraft System Testing Establishment. In addition, the National Flight Test Center (NFTC), which is monitoring all LCA-related flying activities, is also within HAL’s military airport. "Training becomes easier in Bangalore for the IAF pilots on the new platform. In addition, any teething problems that the pilots might face while getting accustomed to Tejas can be sorted out before they move to Sulur,” an NFTC source says.

Phase-II hot-weather trials over: Meanwhile, Tejas crossed a significant hurdle when two LCAs successfully performed in hot-weather trials (HWTs) at Nagpur last week. Sources told AVIATION WEEK that the week-long HWTs were part of Tejas’ phase II schedule. The first phase was completed in 2008. “All new systems onboard and avionics were tested with temperatures varying from 40 to 45 degrees Celsius (104 to 114 deg. F.). We had absolutely no issues with these flights, and both platforms rose to the occasion and performed as expected. We had close to 10 flights as part of the trials,” a source says. Confirming the successful HWTs, P.S. Subramanyam, program director for combat aircraft and director of the Aeronautics Development Agency, says that one limited series production-3 aircraft and another prototype vehicle-3 from the Tejas fleet were part of the HWTs at Nagpur.

For full report, please visit:

http://www.aviationweek.com/india

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