HAL , Hindustan Aeronautical Ltd., is having a huge national responsibility for the defence of the country as well as present world our capability by getting into export business significantly. Here are different tasks:

1. HAL must complete the 123 Tejas multi-role fighters MK-1A already on order as soon as possible. Only 9 of Tejas fighters were delivered by March 31, 2018.How much time will be taken by HAL to complete the rest 114 fighters? If HAL raises its capacity in 2019-20 by 12, and produces thereafter 16 in 2020-21. Even with 24 fighters thereafter per annum, HAL will take 3 years 7 months. It means HAL can complete the task by the middle of 2025.

2. IAF has ordered another 201 fighters too. However, this is contingent on Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) succeeds in bringing the much improved Tejas Mk2 to fruition. Interestingly, the total time for Tejas MK-2 production to go on the same production line will get almost six years to complete the task.

3. In my opinion, AMCA, the fifth generation fighter that DRDO , ADA and HAL with all other supports are developing and have done a considerable work already, could have been made ready. Interestingly, as per media on May 18, 2018, “ The Aeronautical Development Agency, which had conceived and designed the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas, has set the ball rolling for building the next generation defence aircraft, the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), by extending an invitation to private players in Coimbatore to build a technology demonstrator. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/tamil-nadu-to-build-indias-next-generation-defence-aircraft/articleshow/64217410.cms

4. Even though HAL’s existing facilities will continue with production of MK-1 and switch over to MK-2 that has off late has been designated as medium weight fighter (https://defenceupdate.in/post-upgradation-tejas-mark-2-to-become-a-medium-weight-fighter0/ ), it will also have a version to be be used by Navy after necessary modifications.

5. MK-2 will have high thrust engines that will be GE-414 engine. It is expected to have a maximum take off weight of 17.5 tonnes with an improvement of over 85% in weapons and payload carrying capacity to that of Tejas, LCA MK-1 having a max.take off weight of 13.5 tonnes.HAL Kaveri is also under upgradation. It is being done through foreign design companies. HAL, ADA, DRDO, GTRE and other agencies are also trying to upgrade the Kaveri engine to the best specification to suit all applications.

6. India must treat LCA as the smallest smart fighter just like the small and compact cars for which India has become a global manufacturing hub. LCAs have great export potential if HAL can build up the scale fast and provide the best of features such as ‘fly by light’ and globally competing superior quality.

7. HAL also has designed, developed, and integrate military helicopters too. The new LCH and Rudra are pretty good contributions that well-accepted by the IAF and even Army. The good part is HAL has its Engines also ingeniously manufactured. HAL must scale up its R&D and production rates. It must export with confidence for performance to be reliable.

8. HAL must outsource considerable and develop the ecosystem for fighters and helicopters of size and features to meet first the requirements of defence forces.

9. HAL can be the torch-bearer of defence manufacturing in its area so that the dependence on imports of the machines and its spare parts can be minimised.

10. I wish the Importmania of ministry and defence forces gets removed.