Latest news with #HAL
The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Ajay Kumar Shrivastava takes over as HAL director for engineering, R&D
Ajay Kumar Shrivastava assumed charge as Director (Engineering and R&D) of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on July 15, the company said. Before this appointment, he held the position of Executive Director (Aircraft Research & Design Centre) at HAL, said an official release on Wednesday (July 16, 2025). Mr. Shrivastava began his career at HAL in 1988 as a Management Trainee (Technical). Throughout his 37-year tenure, he has held several key leadership positions, including Head of the ARDC and Head of the Transport Aircraft Research and Design Centre (TARDC), it added. He has made significant contributions to major projects such as the avionics upgrade of the entire HS-748 fleet, the Do-228, the Sea King helicopter, and the IL-78, the release said. Under his leadership, HAL secured DGCA certification for two Do-228 aircraft—the first indigenous transport civil passenger aircraft in India to receive Type Certification—as well as the Type Certification of the Hindustan-228 aircraft. He has also successfully led the indigenisation of several critical aircraft components and has extensive experience in the design and development of trainer, fighter, and transport aircraft, as well as rotary-wing platforms. A recipient of the FASIA (French Aeronautics & Space Industry Award) for his contributions to the aeronautics industry, Mr. Shrivastava played a key role in the avionics upgrade of the Hindustan Jet Trainer-36 'Yashas', which was successfully demonstrated at Aero India 2025, it further stated.
The Print
a day ago
- Business
- The Print
A letter to Defence Minister, with lessons from American fighter pilot John Boyd: Jaithirth Rao
This writer is being a tad presumptuous in penning this letter. But knowing of your sobriety, open-mindedness, and willingness to take courageous decisions, this privilege is being boldly exercised. 1. Addressed a longstanding grievance of service personnel regarding pensions. 2. Moved assertively towards creating a younger and more agile human capital base in our armed forces through the imaginative Agnipath Yojana. 3. Started re-equipping our forces with vigour after a decade-long hiatus. In doing so, you even had to approach the Supreme Court to clearly establish your bona fides. This was really well done. The nation is grateful. 4. Encouraged much-maligned state sector entities, which have risen to the challenge. HAL, for instance, has shown fresh vigour after years of apathy. DRDO, of course, has proved its mettle not just on paper but on the battlefield. 5. You have converted bureaucratic ordnance factories into companies ensuring greater transparency and accountability. You have pushed this overdue reform despite considerable and misplaced opposition. The hope is that you will soon list these companies. About 50 years ago, this writer had the privilege of being taught by the brilliant Professor Suresh Kuchhal, who argued that many of the gains of privatisation could be achieved simply by listing PSUs. Ordnance factories would benefit from the scrutiny and visibility that listing would bring. 6. You have opened up the defence industrial complex to the private sector. With one stroke, you have done away with 80 years of self-inflicted wounds rooted in mistrust of Indian businesses. Other countries (e.g. Japan, Korea) viewed their companies and conglomerates as national assets. We have finally come around to this view. Thank you, sir. 7. You have encouraged nimble, entrepreneurial start-ups to become partners in India's defence journey. This is a source of great national benefit both in the immediate and medium term. 8. You have promoted the export of Indian defence equipment. This is a stroke of genius. The purpose is not to encourage war but to deter it. Well-equipped countries are less likely to go to war. More importantly, this move forces Indian suppliers to make products that are world-class and globally competitive. 9. You have created a solid, mutually synergistic relationship between the Defence Ministry and the Department of Space and ISRO, at a time when the Department of Space has imaginatively opened this exciting domain to India's private sector and to start-ups. The benefits will undoubtedly be magnified. Also read: It doesn't end here. India must prepare for mightier neighbours John Boyd, the great American fighter pilot Now, with considerable humility, and in the hope that you are open to constructive inputs, this writer would like to offer an unusual suggestion: please read the book Boyd: The Fighter Pilot Who Changed the Art of War by Robert Coram. In fact, I would go so far as to recommend that all officers in the services and civil servants in your ministry read it. This book is about a brilliant American fighter pilot, John Boyd. He started as one of the most successful servicemen in his line and went on to identify the theoretical foundations of what had until then been attributed to the 'intuitive skills' of pilots. He developed a manual that ended up being used not only by American fighter pilots but by their counterparts across the world. The US Air Force allowed him to fulfil his desire to go back to university. Boyd often told his friends that he didn't want to 'become' someone through promotions as ends in themselves. Instead, he wanted to 'do' something, regardless of whether he was promoted. He studied Industrial Engineering at Georgia Tech, which enabled him to pivot toward equipment design and project management. Boyd plunged into aircraft design, defying bureaucratic norms that did not assign him this task. He argued for a simple, lean design focussed on functionality. He was not in favour of adding bells and whistles like fancy equipment and even a second engine. His vision was a nimble, singularly focussed weapon: a fighter plane. He did not win all his battles. Officers who loved bigger, more expensive (and therefore, in their opinion, better) planes opposed him. So did equipment manufacturers who wanted to keep palming off earlier designs with redundant additions for better profit margins. But Boyd managed to win most of his battles. The F-16 emerged as a 'good' plane, though Boyd himself argued it could have been 'great'. As an aside, India may find that developing uni-focussed equipment for specific terrains such as deserts and mountains may be more effective and economical than relying on multipurpose platforms. Such equipment might also be easier to export to countries with similar geography. Also read: Ministry of Defence has lofty reform plans for 2025. First, establish Theatre Commands Boyd succeeded despite sabotage by bureaucracy Boyd's associate and protégé, Pierre Sprey, fought another battle. In the US Air Force, large, complex bombers were seen as 'upper class', fighters as 'middle class', and ground support aircraft as 'low class'. These distinctions allowed Sprey to get himself almost surreptitiously appointed as chief designer of a ground support aircraft, which eventually became the US Air Force's A10 — affectionately or disdainfully known as the 'Ground Hog'. Sprey designed with vim and gusto. But he too lost some bureaucratic battles. The A10 was bigger and had exotic additions that it did not need. Once again, what emerged was a 'good' aircraft rather than a 'great' one. This aircraft was dismissed as cheap and ugly, but it emerged as a winner in the first Gulf War. The A10 was loved by pilots and feared by the enemy. Despite support from imaginative seniors up to the level of Defence Secretaries, Boyd was denied promotions. The middle bureaucracy sabotaged his career. Boyd left the service. As it turned out, this became a blessing in disguise. He then developed his intellectual pursuits in unexpected directions. He delved deep into military history, and explored the roots of knowledge, perception and reality as these matters change in a kaleidoscopic manner. While these are fascinating, they are not germane to the purpose of this letter. In the field of military strategy, US Services accepted Boyd's ideas grudgingly. The one unit that responded enthusiastically was the Marine Corps, the smallest of the armed services, which embraced his theoretical idea of 'getting into the adversary's decision cycle'. The Marine Corps' spectacular success in the first Gulf War vindicated Boyd. The US Army, which only partially adopted his ideas and reverted to its time-honoured traditions, saw more limited success, though this fact was covered up by their PR. Reading Boyd's biography can be of enormous value not just for serving officers and defence designers but also for political leadership. By his own standards, Boyd failed — sabotaged by a bureaucracy that always wanted to go for the exotic, the costly, and the profitable over the efficient and effective. Safety, efficacy, and simplicity took a back seat. The system likes to fall back on 'tried and tested,' despite evidence of failure or limited success at best. It is interesting to note that even Boyd and his team could only manage 'good' designs — not 'great' ones. Yet partial success matters and must be lauded. So, dear Raksha Mantri, when you feel frustrated by the slowness, the tediousness, and the obstreperousness of the 'system,' you may take comfort in the fact that strong American personalities — like James Schlesinger, Caspar Weinberger, and Colin Powell — faced similar hurdles and found ways to work around them. Also read: Gaza, Ukraine being fought on techno-battlefields. Indian military is 3 decades behind Proposal for govt: A new ministry, please In the spirit of John Boyd, and running the risk of appearing impertinent, this writer offers the following suggestions. 1. Please create a Ministry of State position for 'Defence Design, Development, Production, and Procurement'. This should supersede the current setup focussed only on production. 2. Move the Minister of State to Visakhapatnam. Not every department needs to be based in Delhi. Space and Atomic Energy are based in Bengaluru and Mumbai. Incidentally, there will be some brownie points gained with your political partner, N Chandrababu Naidu. The Defence Ministry already has land in Visakhapatnam. Accommodating a lean department should not be a problem. Avoiding Delhi's miasmal winds will automatically provide impetus to the new ministry. 3. Some civil servants may be reluctant to move out of Delhi. There is no need to force them. This new ministry should comprise only willing personnel. The officers can be transferred to other ministries or to a central pool ensuring that they remain in Delhi as per their desire. 4. Junior and mid-level officers from all services should be deputed to Visakhapatnam. This group must be asked to read Coram's book and model themselves on Boyd's team. 5. Defence attachés in Kyiv, Moscow, Tel Aviv, and Teheran should be assigned to this ministry after their term ends. Those from Beijing, Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, and Paris should also be considered. They can bring fresh global ideas. 6. National private sector companies should be encouraged to engage with the new ministry. Stern warnings should be given to them that this engagement is for the benefit of the country and its defence. While they will certainly make profits, their role should not be that of short-term vultures. 7. These companies should be invited to second some of their best engineers and project managers for short-term assignments. These individuals should be clearly told that they will have to forego their present salaries and accept salaries on par with their government counterparts. If this is not acceptable, then they need not come. There is no compulsion. The new ministry wants only willing, enthusiastic, hungry people. These individuals will have to publicly take an oath that they will not be swayed by conflicts of interest and work indirectly for their employer's benefit. Their commitment for the next few years will only be to the country's defence. 8. A close liaison with the Department of Space and ISRO should be institutionalised. For external parties, both should appear seamlessly integrated. 9. Start-ups should be encouraged to pitch ideas to the new ministry. 10. The Raksha Mantri should visit Visakhapatnam every month for two days to review progress and assess start-up pitches. 11. The aim of the new ministry should be simple: within five years, India must have world class, state-of-the art defence equipment in multiple fields. While cutting-edge technology is important, effectiveness, cost-efficiency, and scalability should be the overarching themes. Risks will be taken in a calibrated manner. Risk-taking will not be punished. The focus will be on learning lessons and moving forward. 12. The Prime Minister should inaugurate the new ministry and visit it at least twice a year for the next five years. It is this writer's ardent hope that our country learns from John Boyd's ideas — fully and substantially, not just partially as has been the case with America. The time is now for us to build on the amazing foundation your government has laid in recent years. The next five can be really exciting. Jaithirth 'Jerry' Rao is a retired entrepreneur who lives in Lonavala. He has published three books: 'Notes from an Indian Conservative', 'The Indian Conservative', and 'Economist Gandhi'. Views are personal. (Edited by Prashant)
India.com
a day ago
- Business
- India.com
India's Masterplan after Operation Sindoor, PM Modi sends his closest Aide to DRDO to..., plans to make..., Pakistan, China, Bangladesh to...
DRDO Bangalore Lab: The Narendra Modi government is working relentlessly to strengthen its defense capabilities by giving the highest priority to self-reliance. Following Operation Sindoor in 2025, the central government has made it clear that India will no longer produce weapons solely for its own use, but will also export them globally. Recently, Dr. P.K. Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visited the DRDO lab in Bengaluru signaling both seriousness and urgency in this direction. This lab primarily focuses on radar and electronic warfare technologies. It is important to note that the Modi government has removed over 400 weapons and equipment from the import list so far. This clearly indicates that these items will now be manufactured domestically and used by the Indian armed forces. Following Dr. Mishra's visit, several key projects have come to light that are set to take India's defence policy to new heights. Hypersonic Hitters – BrahMos-II Missile The BrahMos-II missile system is one of India's most ambitious defence projects. The BrahMos-II missile will have a range of 1,500 kilometers It will have a speed eight times faster than the speed of sound. It will be capable of being launched from land, sea, and air platforms. The Long-Range Anti-Ship Missile will have a range of over 1,000 kilometers Next-Gen Air Superiority – AMCA Stealth Fighter, India's first fifth-generation stealth fighter jet, AMCA, is being jointly developed by DRDO and HAL. Its first flight is expected by 2026, with serial production likely by 2032–33. This fighter jet will feature supercruise capability, stealth technology, an internal weapons bay, and advanced avionics. Multi-Layer Air Defence System – Project Kusha Project Kusha is designed to intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, fighter jets, and drones within a range of 150 to 400 kilometers. DRDO is developing this system domestically with capabilities comparable to the S-400. It is expected to become operational by 2028. VSHORADS, Shoulder-fired Missile System VSHORADS is an indigenous missile system It is being developed on a large scale for the first time in India. It has a range of approximately 6 kilometers and is equipped with an advanced infrared seeker. The Army has placed an order for 5,000 units, which could make it a part of India's defense export portfolio. Smart Precision Weapons: Rudram-2 and Rudram-3 The Rudram-2 and Rudram-3 missiles are intended to strike enemy radars, air defense systems, and communication hubs. Rudram-2 offers a range of 250 to 300 kilometers, while Rudram-3 is expected to exceed a range of 550 kilometers. India's New Strength in Electronic Warfare The CLAWs laser system will be India's first Directed Energy Weapon system. The main of the system is to neutralize threats like drones, micro-missiles, and mortars in mid-air
India Today
2 days ago
- Business
- India Today
US firm delivers Tejas MK 1A engine after delays, India to ramp up production
US-based defence maker GE Aerospace is taking significant steps to streamline the delivery of F404-IN20 engines for India's Tejas MK 1A fighter aircraft, following a series of delays that hindered the project. The second engine was recently delivered to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), which is responsible for assembling the initial delivery of the engine took place on March 25 this year, marking a notable milestone. Shawn Warren, General Manager of Combat & Trainer Engines at GE Aerospace, expressed excitement about the delivery, stating it represents an important phase in their relationship with HAL and India's defence a contract valued at USD 716 million signed in 2021, HAL had been awaiting these engines to boost their production of the Tejas MK 1A. The contract had experienced a two-year delay, affecting HAL's timelines for expanding India's fleet. GE Aerospace's recent delivery is seen as a crucial step in reviving the project's has been restructuring its production line in Bengaluru to accelerate the integration of these engines.A new assembly line has been added to enhance the pace of production, aiming to deliver 16 Tejas MK 1A units annually to fulfil the contract by 2028. This restructuring is expected to alleviate the delays in engine delivery."Despite the delay in engine delivery, we have optimised our assembly process to ensure swift deliveries. The arrival of the F-404 engines will allow us to ramp up production significantly," An official from HAL Aerospace had to restart the production line for the F404-IN20 engines, which had been dormant for five years."With no additional engine orders on the horizon, the production line for F404-IN20 was shut down. However, when HAL ordered an additional 99 engines in 2021, our team began the complex task of restarting," GE delivery of these engines is anticipated to enhance the Indian Air Force's operational capabilities, particularly since it currently relies on older Tejas MK 1A, with its upgraded features, is expected to significantly bolster India's air defence when Aerospace is now working closely with suppliers to maintain efficient production, ensuring the highest standards of safety and quality in delivering the engines to HAL.- Ends
India Today
2 days ago
- Business
- India Today
India, US close to finalising jet engine co-production deal for fighter aircraft
India and the United States are moving closer to finalising the much-anticipated deal for the co-production of GE-414 jet engines, defence officials informed India agreement is expected to be signed by the end of this financial year. Once inked, the deal will mark a significant step forward in India's aim to become a leading jet engine manufacturer in the coming GE-414 engines are set to power the upcoming LCA Mark 2 fighter jets, which are expected to be inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) within the next four years. The deal has faced delays due to prolonged discussions between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and US-based GE Aerospace. Under the agreement, the engines will be manufactured in India, contributing to the country's self-reliance on defence a parallel development, India received the second GE-404 engine from the US on Monday for the LCA Mark 1A programme. The engine was handed over to HAL, which is set to receive 12 more GE-404 engines by the end of the financial engines will power the LCA Mark 1A aircraft, for which the IAF has already placed an order for 83 units. A proposal to procure 97 additional fighters is also in an advanced stage of this year, GE Aerospace delivered the first of 99 F404-IN20 engines to HAL for the same programme. HAL is now working to integrate these engines into the Mark 1A jets and aims to deliver more than 10 aircraft to the IAF reviews of the project continue, with Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister PK Misra recently visiting HAL's Bengaluru facility to assess progress on both the LCA Mark 1A and Mark 2 LCA Mark 2 is envisioned to replace the aging Mirage 2000, Jaguar, and MiG-29 fleets by around 2035. In the next decade, India aims to manufacture over 400 LCA jets powered by variants of GE engines.- EndsTune InMust Watch
