OREANDA-NEWS. (I) Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) is associated with the development of Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).  Initial Operational Clearance for LCA  AF Mk-I has been obtained on 20th December 2013 and LCA Navy Mk-I and LCA  AF Mk-II are under development.

(II) National Aeronautical Laboratory (NAL) under the  Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has manufactured and test flown following Civil Aircraft:-

(1) Two seat all composite aircraft Hansa-3.

(2) Five seat all metal aircraft CNM5 under Public Private Partnership (PPP) with M/s Mahindra Aerospace.

(3) 14 seat commuter aircraft SARAS.

 (III) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has taken the following steps:

(1) HAL has built up indigenous capabilities in design and production of fighter aircraft, trainer aircraft, helicopters and their accessories / avionics.

(2) Intermediate Jet Trainer (IJT) is also being developed.

(3) HAL has taken up design and development of Basic Turboprop Trainer Aircraft (HTT-40), Light Combat Helicopter and Light Utility Helicopter.  It has also developed the Advanced Light Helicopter.

(4) HAL has been manufacturing various aircraft / helicopters under Transfer of Technology (ToT) from the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) since 1949, such as, Vampire, Gnat, Jaguar, various versions of MiG-21s, MiG-27M, Su-30 MKI, Prentice Trainer, Hawk, HS-748 (Avero), Doornier-228, Chetak and Cheetah / Cheetal.

Raw materials, a number of Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) and highly specialised test equipment hitherto not developed in the country, spare parts for which technologies have not been transferred by the OEMs are imported on need basis.

(1) ADA has spent an amount of about Rs.3500 crore till date on import of components.

(2) A total of Rs.162.68 crore have been spent towards import of components by CSIR-NAL till date.

(3) HAL has spent Rs.8046 crore towards imported raw material, spare parts and components consumed during 2013-14.

(1) ADA has ab initio designed 179 LRUs and 46 LRUs are under the process of indigenization out of total 344 LRUs of LCA Air Force fighter.  CSIR-NAL had launched a limited indigenisation effort for the development of some of the LRUs, such as, landing gear actuator, Engine Indication and Crew Alert System (EICAS) etc. for civil aircraft.  HAL has indigenously developed and produced over 600 types of components / systems.  HAL has been working with the Indian Industry with a view to developing indigenous capabilities for manufacturing various aircraft components.

(2) In addition, the Government has introduced defence offsets with the intent of boosting indigenous production.  Through defence offsets, foreign vendors purchase eligible defence products from Indian Offset Partners (IOP).  This will have the effect of building indigenous capabilities for production of products belonging to the global value chain in aerospace manufacturing. Foreign vendors also invest in defence industries through offsets, which enhance their capabilities for boosting production of indigenous defence components.

This information was given by Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh in a written reply to Shri Feroze Varun Gandhi in Lok Sabha today.