High-End Strategic Product to Compete in Global Market

Indian state-owned companies Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) are to co-develop and co-produce a new infra-red search and track system (IRST) for the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) Su-30MKI multirole fighters.

HAL said on 26 April that the proposed long-range, dual-band system will be “a high-end strategic technology product in the field of defence avionics,” competing technically with other IRSTs in the global market. It will feature a television day camera, as well as IR and laser-based sensors in a single window for air and ground target tracking and localisation, said the company, adding that the system is expected to “enhance [the IAF’s] air superiority.” Intended to replace the ageing, foreign-made IRSTs in current service, the advanced system will be developed under the ‘Make-II’ category of the MoD’s Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.

The further company announced the following day it has commenced main airframe fatigue testing (MAFT) of the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Mk1 airframe at the company’s Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC) in Bengaluru. “As per the military airworthiness requirements, MAFT has to demonstrate the capability of the airframe to withstand four times the service life,” said HAL, pointing out that these tests will be carried out over a period of eight to nine years. “The successful completion of MAFT will qualify the LCA (Air Force) Mk1 airframe for its full-service life.”