09 June 2022
by Akhil Kadidal
India has certified the HAL HTT-40 basic turboprop trainer. This paves the way for the aircraft's eventual induction into the Indian Air Force. (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd)
India's domestically developed Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) aircraft has received its airworthiness clearance certificate from the Centre for Military Airworthiness and Certification (CEMILAC).
The announcement was made by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on 6 June.
According to HAL, the aircraft achieved certification in record time from the first flight. According to a previous report by Janes, the aircraft's maiden flight was in mid-2016 and the certification of the aircraft began in September 2021.
An HAL source said that the contract for production is expected to be signed in October or November 2022. The production could start 18 months after the T0 (date of contract signature), he added.
“The computer numerical control (CNC) machine will subsequently be set up and we expect the first batch of aircraft to be delivered within 20 months of the contract signing,” the HAL source told Janes.
“We have the capability to manufacture 24 aircraft per year across two manufacturing facilities – at Bangalore and at Nashik,” he added.
29 March 2024
by Akhil Kadidal
The first production Tejas Mk 1A takes off from the HAL airport in Bangalore on 28 March 2024. (HAL)
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has test-flown its first production Tejas Mk 1A Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). However, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is unlikely to get the aircraft until mid-2024, an industry source told Janes .
According to HAL, the first production aircraft, serial no LA-5033, conducted an 18-minute successful sortie from the HAL airport in Bengaluru on 28 March. HAL intended to deliver at least one Tejas Mk 1A to the IAF by February 2024, a deadline that was subsequently moved up to 31 March. Janes understands that the handover of LA-5033 to the IAF could possibly require at least two additional months.
An industry source told Janes that the delay in delivery is because of ongoing “disruptions in the supply chain” for the programme.
28 March 2024
by Akhil Kadidal
This concept image of China's new attack helicopter, tentatively designated as Z-21, is based on photographs of the prototype aircraft in flight. (Janes)
China is developing a new attack helicopter that appears to be in the same weight class as the US Boeing AH-64 Apache and the Russian Mil Mi-28 Havoc.
Images of the new helicopter, which emerged on Chinese social media in March 2024, show an aircraft that is larger than the People's Liberation Army's (PLA's) in-service AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) Changhe Aircraft Industries Group (CHAIG) Z-10 attack helicopter, and with a wider central fuselage that is comparable with the Apache. The fuselage includes cheek fairings similar to the AH-64 Apache and a nose configuration similar to the Mi-28. The AH-64E and the Mi-28N have a maximum operating weight of 10–12 tons.
The new helicopter (tentatively designated as Z-21 by Chinese military observers) also appears to incorporate some of the PLA's latest combat helicopter features such as upward-facing engine exhausts to reduce its infrared signature.
27 March 2024
by Gareth Jennings
The Bird AeroSystems defensive aids installation fitted to an A319 airliner (pictured here) of an undisclosed European operator. (Bird AeroSystems)
Bird AeroSystems has fitted its aircraft defensive aids system (DAS) for an undisclosed European A319 operator, likely the Hungarian Air Force (HuAF).
The Israeli company said on 27 March that its Self Protection Radar Electro-Optic System (SPREOS) directed infrared countermeasure (DIRCM) and Aeroshield Missile Protection System (AMPS) had been fitted to multiple A319 aircraft for an undisclosed customer to protect against surface-to-air missile threats.
“At the core of this project is the SPREOS, a patented DIRCM system for missile approach verification, tracking, and laser jamming,” the company said. “The installation also included Bird's versatile AMPS solution, designed for both military and civilian markets, providing complete protection against ground-to-air threats, including [manportable air-defence system] MANPADS attacks, for helicopters and VVIP aircraft for heads of states. Additionally, the installation of the AeroShield pod solution on the Airbus A319 aircraft was expanded to be installed also for Dassault Falcon 7X aircraft,” it added.
India's domestically developed Hindustan Turbo Trainer-40 (HTT-40) aircraft has received its airwort...
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