HAL Pushes for Homegrown Cargo Transporter to Stay Afloat in MTA Race

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), India's state-owned aerospace giant, is pushing for the development of a fully indigenous cargo transporter.

This move comes as HAL feels the pressure of potential exclusion from the upcoming Medium Transport Aircraft (MTA) program. The development of an indigenous platform also plays into India's increasing focus on self-reliance in defense.

HAL's push for an indigenous solution comes on the heels of a private Indian company's successful execution of the C-295 transport aircraft order, marking a historical first for the country's defense sector.

Sources familiar with the MTA program confirm HAL's advocacy for a domestically developed cargo aircraft. This approach aligns with the government's goal of bolstering India's self-reliance in military technology and could offer long-term advantages in maintenance and upgrades.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief's recent announcement regarding the replacement of its aging An-32 and IL-76 fleets with MTAs by 2030 and beyond presents a highly lucrative opportunity.

The potential for an order potentially exceeding 100 aircraft over the next two decades makes the MTA tender a highly desirable contract for defense contractors worldwide.

India's decision to withdraw from the collaborative MTA program with Russia, in which HAL held a key role, deprived the company of a pre-existing design for the IAF's needs.

Furthermore, several foreign aerospace companies interested in the IAF's tender have opted to partner with private Indian firms. This strategic move could potentially marginalize HAL if it doesn't put forward a compelling domestic solution.

The Indian government and the IAF are faced with a critical choice. Will they favor the potential long-term benefits of a fully indigenous aircraft spearheaded by HAL, or will the lure of established foreign platforms and partnerships with the private sector prove more appealing?

Ultimately, the coming months will prove pivotal in shaping the future of India's military transport aircraft capabilities and HAL's role within it.

 

[beencensured]

What makes u think they are even remotely capable of building a heavy lift cargo aircraft, when they failed to build Saras aircraft, that wad far more simple and even lacked pressurized cabin.

Well, SARAS is a small little NAL project. This will be HAL project who has much more experience. Further China built a heavy lift, why cannot India? Can you explain your illiteracy that you doubt that 1950 technology plane cannot be built in India. Tejas again has more composite by weight then most aircraft in industry making it one of the lightest planes. Brazilians are building planes and so are others like Chinese, American, Europeans, and others. I wonder do you do not shame Satya Narayana Nadella left to America because of the crony capitalism, Corrupt crony governments, family politics, family bureaucracy that appreciates no talent or capable people, but he gave results and caused Microsoft to be three trillion dollars. While some still stick to cronies and do not like talent, and development, but then you look at talent like him and say made company not 1/10 the value into a 3 trillion dollar company and then say India may have a four trillion dollar economy, still you want to stick to crony capitalism, act regressive and never make effort to be the best. Why do you think such a small irrelevant project like SARAS attract any talent? You must be most shameless to think so.

 

[Frank]

Atmanirbharta is a political slogan, as devoid of substance as say, Swatch Bharat. With significant R&D spending (both by the Govt. and also by private companies) we cannot hope to make world class products.

or just copy turkey or iran or south korea or isreal model...

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

As I have said previously, I have no issues with HAL presenting a comprehensive, detailed plan, provided its realistic and achievable. They seem to love giving absurd fantastical development schedules, which even they realize is just untenable.

As far as I know, they have not advocated for scrapping the tender for the medium transport aircraft. Maybe they want a future program for indigenous development of such a system with HAL at centre of it. India does have plan for a regional airliner which is on hold as it would cost 2billion dollars. Maybe HAL is floating the idea of similar plan for a medium transport aircraft.

Having such a plan for future (10-20 years) is not a bad idea. If HAL wont float it, who would? Since no one other than it can hope to build it.

 

[Frank]

Yup but not with HAL.

ok then tell M0dis freind fraud Adani or ambani or TATA to do it... how long will import and f00l people calling it Atmanirbhar.. not everyone is a low re tard like you who gets f00led by Feku M0di easily

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

As far as I know, they have not advocated for scrapping the tender for the medium transport aircraft. Maybe they want a future program for indigenous development of such a system with HAL at centre of it. India does have plan for a regional airliner which is on hold as it would cost 2billion dollars. Maybe HAL is floating the idea of similar plan for a medium transport aircraft.

Having such a plan for future (10-20 years) is not a bad idea. If HAL wont float it, who would? Since no one other than it can hope to build it.

No, but what they will do instead is, they will pitch the idea first and when government gives them clearance to proceed, they will then start lobbying with MoD and pressure groups to make it primary procurement project. Once that happens they will then get bogged down and then start delaying project and create excuses as how they are facing new challenges. After that every now and then they will run out of development funds and keep requesting for additional funds and keep delaying the project little by little at firs, but then they will dispose even that and at a very later stage say that they need more time. All while they have stalled the IAF procurement of the aircraft as they themselves pressured the MoD through unions and lobbied for this project becoming the primary project for transport aircraft.

This Modus Operandi quite frankly is getting old.

 

[Pad UwU]

Another wishful fantasy CGI aircraft from HAL😹😹😹

 

[Pad UwU]

My fear is that I will pass away due to old age - before I get to see these exciting developments.

😹😹😹
Well it's the current reality

 

[Apocalypse gupta]

No, but what they will do instead is, they will pitch the idea first and when government gives them clearance to proceed, they will then start lobbying with MoD and pressure groups to make it primary procurement project. Once that happens they will then get bogged down and then start delaying project and create excuses as how they are facing new challenges. After that every now and then they will run out of development funds and keep requesting for additional funds and keep delaying the project little by little at firs, but then they will dispose even that and at a very later stage say that they need more time. All while they have stalled the IAF procurement of the aircraft as they themselves pressured the MoD through unions and lobbied for this project becoming the primary project for transport aircraft.

This Modus Operandi quite frankly is getting old.

Oh, can you give an example of this. As far as I know, the case has been the opposite, where armed forces make ridiculous demands, then when they get domestic product, they reject it and buy foreign stuff

 

[Deepak Hegde]

HAL productivity is lowest. L&T and other private sector are quite productive in their operations.

Well, I meant productivity of DPSU's only. However, even for our private sector, productivity will need to be improved constantly, especially if they focus on exports. Right now, the lack of constant orders from Indian forces mean that that the deli, very pressure is not that high on the private players, but as they progress they will have to increase automation levels to improve productivity and precision.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

HAL should also include civilian aircraft variant in its plan

Civil aircraft unlike military require a high level.of redundancy in avionics architecture. HAL is incapable of demonstrating such competency. If their shoddy work on ALH Dhruv components is any thing to go by, it's best HAL stays far away from civil aviation project.

 

[ABHIJIT APSINGIKAR]

Oh, can you give an example of this. As far as I know, the case has been the opposite, where armed forces make ridiculous demands, then when they get domestic product, they reject it and buy foreign stuff

They did the same to ALH DHRUV NAVY version. There was a reason they were kept out of the program as the platfirm did not comply wuth requirements. However HAL forced itself jn the deal and then lobbied with the MoD to acquire ALH DHRUV for Navy deck based utility helicopter requirements.

The lack of motorized wing folding mechanism taken over 20-25 min to go from idle state to ready state. What's worse the helicopter rotors are too tight a fit for Navy's hangers in frigate and destroyer. Moreover the last years crash revealed that the components ysed in helicopter did not even comply with stated tolerances and were wearing out far too rapidly.

 

[Rajesh]

Indigenous option in transport segment is a must for india .a program like Tejas has paved way for mk2,tedbf and amca making us self reliant in the near future. we badly need a similar project in cargo transport and passenger transport segment. Either it is hal (govt agencies) private companies or a jv between both which doesn't matter. This screwdriving earlier by dpsu and now by private companies will never give us any benefit but some monetary benefits in the form of electoral bonds and to middleman along with keyboard warriors. Hope an indigenous efforts is being initiated.