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Showing posts with label Tejas Series Production. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tejas Series Production. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2017
Thursday, March 24, 2016
HAL on mission mode to ramp up Tejas production
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| LCA-Tejas Division GM V Sridharan. |
During a facility visit to Tejas Division recently,
OneIndia was witness to the shift in HAL’s work philosophies. The state-of-the-art hangar was abuzz with
activities. The jigs were getting loaded with plane parts. Majority of
employees are now working from morning 7 am to 9 pm, which General Manager V
Sridharan terms it as a ‘voluntary effort.’
A team of young designers and engineers were seen
working hand in hand with support staff at the shop floor to ensure that the
Indian Air Force (IAF) got the required fighters to form the first Tejas
Squadron in Bengaluru.
* Components for SP-3 to SP-8 get on to the jigs
* Our actions will speak now: Sridharan
* Most modules getting outsourced
* Raju says young team will do wonders
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Tuesday, March 22, 2016
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Tejas production variant SP-1 makes maiden flight in Bangalore | First flight without telemetry support | Two test variants on 'bombing mission' in Jaisalmer
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| Tejas seems to be out of the woods with the production variant's first flight. Photo: Basani Satish Kumar |
By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service
Bangalore: The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) wait to induct a home-grown fighter jet into its squadron inched a step closer when the first Tejas series production (SP-1) aircraft kissed the skies on Tuesday. Military sources confirmed to Express that during the 25-minute flight, Tejas SP-1 touched a maximum speed of 0.6 Mach, copying textbook maneuvers befitting a maiden outing. The sole take-away from this flight was the fact that there was no telemetry support to the pilot.
Built by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and designed by Aeronautical Development Agency, the Tejas SP-1 was flown by seasoned Test Pilot Air Commodore (Retd) K A Muthanna, with a Hawk trainer as the chase aircraft. “We did the HSTT (High Speed Taxi Trial) on Monday and the test results were flawless. During today’s flight, the pilot had no link-up with the telemetry team during the entire duration of the flight. This is a first for the programme, similar to what happens while in a squadron scenario,” an official associated with project said.
The build of the Tejas SP-1 seems to have given the team huge confidence to go for the maiden flight. “We had no corrections to make before and after the flight. This is different from what we were used to on earlier occasions. The production version aircraft is definitely superior on all fronts. We will resume the flight on SP-1 after a week,” the official said.
While the programme has to travel some more distance before the much-awaited induction into the IAF, two Tejas aircraft from the flight test programme are currently in Jaisalmer undertaking 'bombing mission.' “New weapons (250 kg and 450 kg bombs) are being integrated into the aircraft. The AoA (Angle of Attack) is also coming closer to 26 degrees, which helps the pilot to undertake care-free manoeuvring. In the next there months we are also lining up the aircraft to fire some new missiles as well,” the official said.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Tejas squadron formation still a distant dream for IAF | First CO posted For No 45 Sqn at ASTE | Engine test bed readied in Sulur
By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Service
Bangalore: The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) wait to induct the Tejas might get bit longer till the four series production (SP) aircraft roll out from the brand new hangars of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). While today’s second initial operational clearance (IOC-2) will signal the end of a grueling wait for the IAF to officially undertake flight evaluation trials, the formation of No 45 Squadron (Flying Daggers) earmarked for Tejas might take another two more years. The same squadron last flew the MiG 21 Bison aircraft operating from Naliya (Gujarat), an airfield closer to Karachi. The Tejas squadron will eventually be operating from the Sulur air force base, near Coimbatore.
Sources monitoring the Tejas programme said that, HAL’s promise of delivering the first production variant of Tejas (SP-1) by March 2014 might be little far-fetched. “We hope to have the first aircraft by end by mid of 2014. The first two aircraft (SP-1, SP-2) might not meet our standards for squadron formation as the metal cutting and hardware were done before we froze the IOC-2 test points. We will raise the first Tejas squadron with four aircraft starting from SP-3 to SP-6,” a top source said. The IAF will use SP-1 and SP-2 for evaluation flight to be undertaken by the Test pilots of Aircraft System and Testing Establishment (ASTE). The limited series production variants LSP-7 and LSP-8 too will be used for evaluation flights by IAF.
The IAF has already identified the first Commanding Officer for Tejas Squadron, now part of the ASTE team, but he’s yet to fly the Tejas. More officers are expected to join the squadron soon, with only few technicians currently being trained to handle the aircraft. For IAF, the maintainability of Tejas is the most primary concern. “The hardware-related issues need to be fixed first. The software can be upgraded without much delay. The critical factor for any aircraft is its maintainability. Truly speaking, before the IOC event, all hardware must be finalized, which might not still be the case with Tejas,” the source said.
A programme management team from the IAF sits at the Aeronautical Development Agency to ensure that the Tejas comes out as a ‘usable aircraft’ befitting the squadron standards. HAL will deliver first 20 aircraft in IOC configuration and another 20 more in the final operational clearance (FOC) format. Appreciating the safety features of the aircraft, the official said that notwithstanding the delays, the safety features of Tejas was world class. “We are way ahead of F-22, Rafale and Eurofighter. We are very lucky to have a safe Tejas flying today. All other similar programmes had crashes during developmental phase. It is a very creditable achievement,” the official said.
Preparations in Sulur are going as per plans with the engine test bed already being readied. The IAF is awaiting the release of Rs 580 crore from the Ministry of Defence to undertake infrastructure work like taxi tracks, hangars and squadron complex. The IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne on Wednesday (18 December) reviewed the progress of Tejas base in Sulur, during his visit to Thiruvananthapuram.
Copyright@The New Indian Express
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Taking shape: First image of Tejas Series Production aircraft
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| HAL says around 60 per cent work on Tejas SP-1 is already completed. |
First look at new Tejas facilities | HAL’s hi-tech Tejas hangar goes live; first aircraft likely in 3 months
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| The man in the above photo is V Sridharan, new Tejas production group general manager in HAL. He holds a record for creating new benchmarks in Hawk production in HAL, a fact acknowledged even by the BAE Systems. Photos: NK for Tarmak007 |
By Anantha Krishnan M
Express News Serivce
Bangalore: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) has set up a state-of-the-art facility with some of the best aerospace manufacturing technologies to take up the Tejas series production. With the built-up area of 28,000 sq meters, the Light Combat Aircraft (Production Group) has already started the series production of Tejas with the mandate of delivering the first aircraft (SP-1) to the Indian Air Force (IAF) by March 2014.
The new facility has LCA structural assembly hangar, two flights hangars and machine shops to augment the Tejas production. Backed with a workforce of over 700 personnel, with 80 per cent being in the average age group of 30 years, the set-up has come up with a sanction of approximately Rs 400 crore. Each Tejas platform should cost the IAF around Rs 200 crore. The equipment fitting on SP-1 began this year and 75 per cent of the aircraft structure is already ready. First 20 aircraft will be rolled out in the initial operational clearance configuration, while the next 20 will be in the final operational clearance format.
HAL plans to take the production rate to 16 aircraft per year from 2017 onwards. The facility will be upgraded to a major manufacturing complex consisting of sheet metal shop, process shop and heat treatment shop. Additional hangars are also coming up for support and maintenance, with further augmentation in the pipeline to accommodate the Tejas trainers and naval variant.
All hangars are equipped with forced draft systems to maintain dust, humidity and temperature control. HAL has given the mandate to head the new facility to V Sridharan, who has worked extensively on Jaguar and Hawk programmes. “We have embedded the Tejas production with best lean practices in manufacturing. Maintaining highest quality standards have been the driving philosophy behind while setting up this unit,” HAL chairman R K Tyagi told Express from Delhi. Batting for the private industry, HAL says that a total of 9362 fabricated parts will be manufactured by its external supply chain. “This step is critical in propelling HAL as a lead integrator in the national aerospace eco system,” Tygai said.
A gen-next 5-axis CNC machine installed at the facility is capable of robotically undertaking the wing skin drilling, thereby reducing the turnaround time by 80 per cent. The manufacturing jigs have been calibrated with computer-aided laser tracker to 80 micron tolerance. The manufacturing shop has been equipped with appropriate CAD software for working with digital mockup features.
To aid IAF’s Tejas squadron formation and associated flight operations, HAL has built a brand new 5000 sq meter tarmac right next to the manufacturing hangar. The flightline group from the new Tejas facility has supported six detachments (outstation trials) in this year. The Tejas variants have also logged the highest ever number of flights (485) this year.
Copyright@The New Indian Express
Monday, December 16, 2013
HAL gears up for Tejas series production | Record 485 flights logged in 2013
By Anantha Krishnan MExpress News Service
Bangalore: With barely one more week to go for Tejas to get its second initial operational clearance (IOC-2), the spotlight will move to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), the prime player in India’s delayed fighter dream. Close to two generation of designers and manufacturing engineers from HAL and its prime work centre Aircraft Research and Design Center, have worked on the Tejas programme. With the project entering the final operational clearance (FOC) and parallel series production (SP) stages, HAL has its task cut out to deliver the first batch of 40 aircraft in phases. A 28,000 sq feet manufacturing facility has already been commissioned by HAL for the series production.
Often at the receiving end for quality issues and time and cost overruns, including the Tejas project, HAL withered many a storms while mastering 4th generation fighter jet manufacturing technologies. While the major delay in the programme came in the form of technology denials following the Pokhran nuclear test in 1998, there were further internal issues that cropped up over the years due to material shortage and leadership stalemate.
HAL chairman R K Tyagi refuses to drawn into any controversies of the past and points out at the record number of flights Tejas achieved in 2013 as a reaffirmation of company’s commitment. “I do not want to go on a rewind mode. This year Tejas variants have logged 484 flights, compared to the average 280-odd flights it logged every year. This is an increase of 75 per cent. This has been achieved by closely monitoring the aircraft readiness, reducing turnaround time and an emphasis on snag-free flights,” Tyagi told Express on Sunday.
In the design phase, HAL generated over 9000 structural drawings, which were validated and converted into the fighter. HAL also built an ‘Iron Bird’ facility for testing the fly-by-wire system in addition to setting up manufacturing facilities which rolled out 14 aircraft till date. The company also designed and developed indigenous LRUs, including jet fuel starter for the engine. “Our focus is to set the base for an aerospace eco system in India from the experience we gained from the Tejas project. Self reliance in defence production is a matter of state security and national pride. We will have a lot to offer towards the mission of indigenization,” Tyagi said.
The project had its major share of challenges in the last two years with a series of outstation weapon and system trials. HAL had to ensure flight readiness of Tejas along with its partners the Aeronautical Development Agency and certification agencies. During this period, HAL also had to shift its focus on quality and maintainability aspects of the aircraft. Critical issues including fuel leaks had to be resolved on priority which could have slowed down the project further. Insiders point towards the latest Tejas aircraft (LSP-8) as a testimony to the level of perfection the team achieved. “It has completed 40 flights without any major snag. Post IOC-2, the IAF pilots will continue with their testing and takeover of Tejas, which will eventually replace the MiGs,” a senior official from HAL said.
Copyright@The New Indian Express
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Thursday, January 24, 2013
HAL gears up for first flight of Tejas LSP-8 | Tyagi says lines decked up for series production
Express News Service
Bangalore: The Indian Air Force's (IAF) long and frustrating wait to own the home-grown combat fighter might be finally over with the Limited Series Production (LSP-8) version of Tejas completing two crucial engine ground runs (EGR) successfully. An elated Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) chairman R K Tyagi told Express on Wednesday that his boys are working overtime to ensure that the LSP-8 hits the skies soon.
Battered by the media, bruised by IAF and butchered by desi aerospace gurus for unprecedented time and cost overruns, Team Tejas had to face the music from all quarters, for over a decade. Tyagi, who took over the reins of HAL last year, said that LSP-8 would make its maiden flight some time in February. “The aircraft is almost akin to the series production (SP) standard aircraft. We have upgraded the systems to incorporate the feedback from the ground/flight evaluation teams, who dealt with earlier LSP variants,” Tyagi said. It will be the 13th aircraft from the Tejas project flight-line to take to the skies, and along with LSP-7, the IAF pilots should soon begin their much-awaited user evaluation trials.
Two preliminary EGRs of LSP-8 have been completed so far for the first time by HAL personnel and certified by National Flight Test Centre. The aircraft is currently undergoing final system checks, to be followed by further inspections by certifying agencies. “Then we will have final ground runs, leading to low speed taxi trials (LSTT), high speed taxi trials (HSTT) and the actual first flight,” Tyagi said. “My team is really jubilant and we would soon commence the work on series production,” Tyagi added.
He said with most of the aircraft system performance reaching almost desired level of expectation, Team Tejas in HAL would now be able to concentrate on stabilizing the production line. “The production line of Tejas at HAL has been moved to a new premises with a built-up area of around 28,000 sqm of Hangars, engineering and administrative blocks. Upgrade and augmentation of production tooling, which is expected to be 2.5 times of prototype requirements, is underway to enhance the rate of production and to expedite delivery of the aircraft,” Tyagi said. HAL promises to add more teeth to IAF by delivering 2 Squadrons of Tejas in the next five years.
Tomorrow: Features of Tejas LSP-8 | Copyright@The New Indian Express
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