New HAL Aero Engine Design And Test Facility To Propel Development Of Strategic Engines For Aircraft And Drones

Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane has inaugurated a state-of-the-art design and test facility at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's (HAL) Aero Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC) in Bengaluru, as reported by The Hindu Businessline.

Spanning over 10,000 square metres, the facility aims to support the development of strategic engines for trainer aircraft, drones, regional jets, and light and medium helicopters.

The new centre houses advanced setups, computational tools, an in-house fabrication facility, and two test beds for HTFE-25, along with one test bed each for HTSE-1200 and the upcoming joint venture engine for the Indian Multi-Role Helicopter (IMRH), co-developed by Safran, France, and HAL.

The facility also features setups for testing various components, including air producers of Jaguar, Gas Turbine Starter Unit (GTSU) for Light Combat Aircraft, Auxiliary Power Units of IMRH and Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft, and Gas Turbine Electrical Generator (GTEG)-60 for An-32 aircraft.

Defence Secretary Aramane expressed the government's confidence in HAL's capabilities, emphasising the importance of the manufacturing sector for the country's future.

He also urged HAL to focus on mastering technologies for all types of aircraft and highlighted the evolving nature of warfare, particularly the role of unmanned aircraft.

Chairman & Managing Director (Addl. Charge) of HAL, C B Ananthakrishnan, described the new facility as a significant milestone in HAL's growth trajectory and a testament to their commitment to achieving self-reliance in aero-engine design and development.

Dr D K Sunil, Director (Engineering, R&D), outlined the design perspectives of HAL's R&D initiatives during the inauguration event.