Arun Jaitley sees flying display of HAL-built jets

Bengaluru: Minister of Finance, Defence and Corporate Affairs Arun Jaitley was enthralled by a spectacular flying display of HAL products, including the Light Combat Aircraft, at the HAL Airport here on Monday.

In the fixed wing segment, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), Hindustan Turbo Trainer (HTT 40) and the upgraded version of the Hawk-I took part in the display. In the rotary wing segment, Mr Jaitley witnessed formation flying by HAL-made helicopter prototypes led by LUH (PT2) and LCH (II and IV), and the helicopter in service Cheetal, ALH Mk III (Dhruv) and ALH Mk IV (Rudra). HAL Tejas (LCA) is an indigenously built single-seat, single-jet engine and multi-role light fighter designed by the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for the Indian Air Force and Navy. HTT-40 has been designed to serve the role of an Intermediate jet trainer.

The Hawk-I is an advanced version of British Aerospace’s Advanced Jet Trainer Hawk. It was recently turned down by IAF and HAL is now pursuing the development Hawk-I on its own. The ALH is a utility helicopter, while LCH is a lighter combat helicopter based on ALH’s HAL/Turbomeca Shakti engine. The LUH is light utility helicopter..

Chitradurga ATR will help test UAVs, drones and AWACS systems
The Aeronautical Test Range, which was inaugurated by Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, is India's premier test range to carry out evaluation of unmanned UAVs and drones.

Mr Jaitely had congratulated the DRDO for creating the indigenous testing range. Pointing out that India had a neighbour that was constantly trying to destabilise us, Mr Jaitley said such ATRs would help in keeping “our level of defence preparedness at optimal level”. He said that establishment of infrastructure such as ATR would contribute to indigenisation of various military platforms. “It further promotes research,” he said.

Congratulating the Karnataka government, he said that the state has been at the forefront of scientific endeavours, not just in the country but in the global economy.

DRDO Public Relations Officer for South India N.M. Kaverappa said, “The ATR is a premium testing range, meant to help in testing and evaluating India’s unmanned aerial vehicles and drones. The facility will help in testing India’s Airborne early warning and control systems (AWACS).”

He said that DRDO is making efforts to make the ATR ecologically viable. “Minimal plants and shrubs grow in this area. We want to turn this site green, which will recharge groundwater and also help people living in villages nearby.”

Increased use of drones and UAVs to carry out recon missions and air-to-ground strikes (proven by the USAF/Army/Navy in various theatres, including Iraq and Syria) helps the IAF minimise human pilot losses.