HAL prepares to make a big impact at Aero-India 2017

The country’s biggest international aerospace exposition, Aero-India 2017, is all set for a February 14 landing at the Yelahanka Air Force Station here.

Keen to make an impact again, state-owned aviation major, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will line up its indigenous products, HTT-40 (Basic Trainer Aircraft), Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) and Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) for flight display. 

Also on HAL’s agenda is the first indigenously upgraded Hawk Mk132, named as Hawk-i. “HAL is geared up to display recent advancements in fixed and rotary wing segments,” as the defence PSU’s chairman and managing director T Survarna Raju put it. The airshow will be on from February 14 to 18.

Spread over an area of 1,282 sqm, HAL’s indoor pavilion will showcase the mock-up of an Indian Multi Role Helicopter (IMRH).

The pavilion seeks to promote HAL’s excellence in technical, research and operational areas in line with its stature as India’s largest defence organisation.

Advanced Hawk
“Visitors will get an opportunity to know about Advanced Hawk kept on static display in front of HAL stall.  HTT-40, the upgraded Jaguar and Mirage 2000, LCH and LUH will be the crowd-pullers,” said Raju.

Besides, customer demonstration flights will be held for the Advanced Light Helicopter Mk III Dhruv and Mk IV (Rudra).  HAL will also hold business meetings with OEMs, sign agreements and contracts with business partners for various projects during the airshow.  Recently inducted into the Indian Air Force, the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas will also take to the skies. Swedish firm SAAB will be back with a Gripen aircraft flown by that country’s air force.

In addition, a full-scale model of the latest generation Gripen E will be on display. The firm’s outlet at the airshow will offer visitors an experience of technologies such as augmented reality, virtual reality and 3D holograms.

The Globaleye
Also on display will be the systems linked to airborne surveillance, air defence and radar, digital air traffic management, air support and commercial aerospace technology. The Globaleye, which automatically detects and tracks air and surface targets over a huge area will also be showcased. The system, according to SAAB officials, can even track ‘stealth’ aircraft.
DH News Service