HAL to work for quicker clearance of defence programmes

BANGALORE: In the face of acerbic criticism from the defence ministry and the Indian Air Force, Hindustan Aeronautics chairman and managing director RK Tyagi said the state-owned aerospace company expects to receive the critical initial operational clearance for the long-delayed intermediate jet trainer by the end-2013.

HAL's intermediate jet trainer has been in development for over a decade now, with the IAF signing up to receive 12 prototypes and 73 operational trainers. However, it is now believed that the IJT is at least three years away from delivery.

"The development is now on track. The IJT has completed its sea-level and night flying trials. We expect to receive the IOC by December 2013," Tyagi said.

The HAL CMD, who took over the reins at the state-owned aerospace company in March last year, also said the company was expecting to achieve the IOC for its ambitious Light Utility Helicopter within the next two years.

Union Defence Minister AK Antony has expressed disappointment at the slow pace of development of a number of crucial defence programmes undertaken by HAL, and has also asked the company's management to spend more on research and development.

The minister has also called for greater participation by the private sector in the country's defence sector, which according to him, will provide completion to PSUs such as HAL.

"T hey (HAL) must show the results by 2015," Antony said.

The IAF has been particularly peeved at the delays in the design, development and manufacturing of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft programme as well as the IJT, which have been in development hell foralmost three decades. There is still very little clarity over their dates of induction.