HAL to set up Dhruv MROs in forward areas
Bengaluru, Feb 19: Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) will soon have Dhruv maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) hubs all across the operational bases, including in forward areas. There are a total of 193 Dhruvs being operational today.
Replying to a query from OneIndia, HAL Chairman T Suvarna Raju said that the Dhruv MROs are primarily aimed at enhancing the operational strength of the Indian Army.
"Our largest customer is the Indian Army and we are in talks with them for setting up the facilities to augment operational strength. We need already existing hangers or land to set up these MROs," Raju said.
HAL Chairman said that the setting up of the MRO is an area closer to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's heart.
"The
Dhruv
MROs
will
ensure
that
the
users
will
get
all
the
spares
at
faster
rate
enabling
the
availability
of
the
helicopter
too
without
any
delay.
We
are
having
a
meeting
in
this
regard
next
week
and
we
will
be
making
a
detail
presentation
to
the
government," Raju
added.
IOC
for
LCH
by
October
Raju said that the Initial Operational Clearance of the Light Combat Helicopter (LCH) will be achieved by October 2015. The 4th technology demonstrator (TD-4) will fly April this year. "We hope to have the certification completed by April 2017," Raju added.
On the fight generation fighter aircraft (FGFA) project, Raju said that a desired result will come out by soon.
"There have been many turbulences in the area of transfer of technology. We are the prime agency for the programme and we have invested $295 million into the project. The preliminary design of the product is done and currently discussions on the development phase in continuing," he added.
Photos: A Veeramani
(The writer is a seasoned aerospace and defence journalist in India. He is the Consultant Editor (Defence) with OneIndia. He tweets @writetake.)