Defence Secretary Inaugurates State-of-the-Art Aero Engine Research & Development Facility at HAL, Bengaluru
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The Defence Secretary, Mr. Giridhar Aramane, inaugurated a new design and test facility at HAL’s Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC) in Bengaluru on December 29, 2023. In his address, Mr. Aramane commended HAL for its crucial work, emphasizing the government’s confidence in HAL’s capability to contribute to the country’s self-reliance. He highlighted the significance of the manufacturing sector for India’s future and urged HAL to concentrate on mastering technologies for various aircraft types, recognizing the evolving landscape of warfare.
Focusing on unmanned aircraft’s role in future warfare, he encouraged HAL to collaborate with private companies to develop new platforms. Expressing his vision for HAL, he aspired for it to ascend into the top ten companies globally, underscoring its position as India’s largest Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU).
During his visit, Mr. Aramane inspected the manufacturing range of different engines and test beds, including a tour of HAL’s Aerospace Division.
Mr. C.B. Ananthakrishnan, CMD (Addl. Charge), HAL, acknowledged the new facility’s significance as a pivotal milestone in HAL’s growth trajectory, symbolizing its commitment to achieving self-reliance in aero-engine design and development. Spanning over 10,000 sq. meters, the facility is part of HAL’s modernization plan.
Dr. D.K. Sunil, Director (Engg, R&D), elaborated on the design aspects of HAL’s R&D initiatives.
At present, AERDC is engaged in designing and developing several new engines, including two strategic engines—the Hindustan Turbo Fan Engine (HTFE) with 25 kN thrust for powering trainers, UAVs, twin-engine small fighter aircraft, or regional jets, and the Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine (HTSE) with 1200 kN thrust for powering light and medium-weight helicopters (ranging from 3.5 to 6.5 tonnes) in single or twin-engine configurations.
The new facility, equipped with state-of-the-art technology, houses specialized machines, advanced setups leveraging computational tools, an in-house fabrication facility, and test beds for HTFE-25 and HTSE-1200 engines. Additionally, it includes setups for testing various critical engine components and LRUs (Line Replaceable Units).
Established in the 1960s, AERDC stands as the sole design house globally that has developed test beds for engines of both Western and Russian origins. The Centre has achieved milestones in developing and certifying indigenous turbojet engines such as the PTAE-7 engine powering Lakshya (an Unmanned Aircraft), Gas Turbine Electrical Generator GTEG-60 for starting An-32 aircraft, and various other critical engine systems for different aircraft platforms.
