Aero India 2023 | Aiming for the Sky

Atul Chandra

The Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) was undoubtedly on a high at AeroIndia, showcasing a wide range of aircraft platforms now in the development stage and many in production. A Tejas Mk-1 fighter in the Final Operational Clearance (FOC) configuration was displayed at the India Pavilion, allowing showgoers a close look at the type.

Argentinian delegation with LCH at DefExpo 2022

In addition to the Tejas, the HAL also showcased the army variants of the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) and Light Utility Helicopter (LCH) for the first time at AeroIndia. The helicopters on display were from the series production batch. While the LUH is being exclusively manufactured at the HAL’s new Tumakuru factory, the LCH will be produced on two production lines—one at Tumakuru and the other at HAL’s existing production facilities in Bengaluru.

The HAL is also making quick progress on the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), which will be a 10-13 tonne class helicopter and is being designed as a replacement for the IAF’s Mi-17 fleet in the 2030s. The HAL showcased a model of the IMRH with rocket pods and gun armament and company officials also informed that the design has been further refined, with Safran Helicopter Engines having been selected as the engine partner for the programme.

Unfortunately, for the HAL the confirmation from the company’s chairman C.B. Ananthakrishnan during the company press conference at the show that the Tejas had been edged out of the Malaysian requirement for a new light trainer was a dampener.

Missed Opportunity

The Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced in February that its FA-50 fighter aircraft had won the USD 920 million deal for the supply of 18 jets to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The HAL’s Tejas LCA Mk-1A was the other