The Hindu : IAF pilots steal the show, HAL bags a contract

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 01, 2004

International

International - India & World

IAF pilots steal the show, HAL bags a contract

By P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE, FEB. 29. The Indian Air Force's `Suryakiran' and `Sarang' teams of fighter pilots today signed off their "flying display" at `Asian Aerospace 2004' on a high note here, even as the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited won a $5-million contract at the six-day event.

The HAL Chairman, N. R. Mohanty, attributed the public sector unit's success of this magnitude to the `confidence' these IAF pilots had created in the international aeronautical circles by using the India-made flying machines with stunning effect. The IAF pilots' aerobatics had brought the performance of `Dhruv', the HAL helicopter, into sharp focus. "The international industry really felt amazed to see that HAL can make — design and develop — such a beautiful helicopter."

The warplanes flown by the `Suryakiran' team, in a nine-aircraft formation, are also of indigenous vintage. Noting this aspect of the "flying displays" by the IAF pilots, the event organiser, Asian Aerospace Pte Ltd, had commended the aerobatics show after the rehearsal itself.

Bell Helicopter, a well-known player in the international market, and HAL "will finalise a contract" entailing the supply of "tail rotor blades" for Bell 206 helicopter, Mr. Mohanty said. This was agreed upon during his meeting with Bell Helicopter's Chief Executive Officer, Mike Redenbaugh, during the air-show. The current "trial order" was being viewed by Bell as possibly only an "initial order."

Mr. Mohanty said Bell clearly indicated its acknowledgment of HAL as an "aerospace leader in this region," while the air force chiefs of Chile, Indonesia and Malaysia "asked for a lot of details about `Dhruv' [the light helicopter]." Chile, in particular, had evinced interest in assessing `Dhruv', possibly for purchase. He would lead a team to Chile later this year in this regard. In the short-term, HAL was likely to export two `Dhruv' category helicopters and one Dornier unit before the end of March, he said, but declined to identify the prospective `Dhruv' buyer.

Responding to questions, Mr. Mohanty said India's new light combat aircraft [LCA], which was still awaiting `certification,' had not generated international interest at the air-show. The LCA was not even packaged as a product at this event, while the light combat helicopter was still at the "conception stage."

In some significant contrast, BrahMos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian joint venture, projected the `capabilities' of a `future' product. A. Sivathanu Pillai, its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, said an attempt was made at this exhibition to `sensitise' the potential buyers about the proposed product, "the modified aircraft version of the [BrahMos] missile." The idea was that this could be bought by countries `friendly' to India. Mr. Pillai said Sukhoi 30 MKI was being considered as the possible `platform' for the `air-launched' version of the missile, work on whose design had "already started." The system could be available in two years' time.

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