Sometimes, on days when our Parliament functions, some important and much sought after information on defence matters emerges. 30 and 31 July 2015 were two such days when both in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, the Raksha Mantri and Rajya Raksha Mantri shared information through written replies to questions raised by members on some long pending defence related issues.
Revamping of HAL
One of the replies informed that the government had in the past constituted an Expert Group under the Chairmanship of Shri B.K. Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission for strengthening and restructuring of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Based on their various meetings and deliberations, the committee finalised and submitted its report to the government on 7 September 2012, in which 34 of the 38 recommendations of the Committee have been accepted. Mr Singh informed that HAL manages its quality function through regulatory and quality management systems (QMS), encompassing total quality principles of process approach, customer focus, continual improvement and measurement and analysis, across all its divisions.
Quality performance of the company is also monitored through MoU signed between HAL and Ministry of Defence. Decision on the life of engines of Jaguar and Hawk aircraft are declared by a Lifing Committee. As per the Lifing Committee, there is no reduction of Time between Overhaul (TBO) for engines of Jaguar aircraft which is 1200 hours for Adour Mk.811 engines.For Hawk aircraft engines (Adour 871), the designated TBO life of 2000 hours has been achieved. Life of engines was earlier restricted to 1000 hours for those engines manufactured at HAL.This was due to the restrictions on the life of four components. The TBO was subsequently increased to 1400 hours by the Lifing Committee. Based on further sampling tests carried out, Lifing Committee has increased the TBO from 1400 hours to 2000 hours for engines currently being manufactured.
Quality performance of the company is also monitored through MoU signed between HAL and Ministry of Defence. Decision on the life of engines of Jaguar and Hawk aircraft are declared by a Lifing Committee. As per the Lifing Committee, there is no reduction of Time between Overhaul (TBO) for engines of Jaguar aircraft which is 1200 hours for Adour Mk.811 engines.For Hawk aircraft engines (Adour 871), the designated TBO life of 2000 hours has been achieved. Life of engines was earlier restricted to 1000 hours for those engines manufactured at HAL.This was due to the restrictions on the life of four components. The TBO was subsequently increased to 1400 hours by the Lifing Committee. Based on further sampling tests carried out, Lifing Committee has increased the TBO from 1400 hours to 2000 hours for engines currently being manufactured.
signed in the last six months. These are:
• Four 1000 ton fuel barges for Indian Navy from Ministry of Defence (MoD).
• Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) of Damage Control Simulator (DCS) for Indian Navy at INS Shivaji, Lonavala.
• Setting up of Damage Control Simulator for Indian Navy at Shipwright School, Vizag including AMC.
• Three Rigid Inflatable Boats (RIBs) for Goa Police.
• One Patrol Boat for Gujarat Maritime Board.
• Ship repair orders for INS Sumedha of Indian Navy and Sindhu Sankalp of National Institute of Oceanography. Further, Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) has been nominated for the construction of 12 Mine Counter Measure Vessels (MCMVs) as per approval of DAC, for which the contract has not yet been signed.The contracts mentioned will be executed by employing the in house manpower of GSL and by resorting to outsourcing. Augmentation of manpower, if necessary, would be taken up based on requirement of Projects. GSL has a laid down policy for recruitment which is based on the provisions and guidelines of Government of India. GSL follows the procedure of compulsory notification of vacancies, provision of reservations etc. and the same process shall be followed for the recruitment in the aforesaid contracts. Orders currently being executed by GSL are:
• Six offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for Indian Coast Guard.
• Two OPVs for Government of Sri Lanka.
• Twofast patrol vessels for Government of Mauritius.
• 11 fast interceptor boats for Government of Mauritius.
• Setting up of damage control simulator (DCS) at Myanmar.
• Fishery research vessel for Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Kochi, GoI.
• Annual maintenance contracts for:- • Survival at Sea training facility for ONGC.
• DCS of Indian Navy at Kochi. • Shore based test facility of Aeronautical Development Authority, GoI.
• 116 interceptor boats of Ministry of Home Affairs, GoI.
• 29 patrol boats of Government of Maharashtra. Development Of Kaveri Fighter Engine The project for development of Kaveri Engine was sanctioned in 1989 with probable date of completion of1996, which was extended to 2009. Government has further approved its continuation within the cost ceiling.The following are some of the major reasons for non-completion of project within the time-schedule:
• Technological difficulties faced during development due to complexities of engine system. • Non-availability of raw materials/ critical components.
• Lack of infrastructure/ manufacturing/ test facilities within the country. • Non-availability of skilled/ technical manpower in the field of aero-engine technology.
• Increase in scope during development. Although there has been delay in development of aero-engine due to reasons stated above, DRDO for the first time ventured to initiate development of aero-engine technology, which only few developed countries in the world possess.The following are some of the major milestones achieved in this programme:
• Successful completion of 73 hours high altitude testing and 57 hours trial on flying test bed have proved level of technological capability and maturity.
• Full Authority Digital Engine Control System has been designed, developed and qualified indigenously. • Twelve materials have been indigenously developed and type certified.
• Total of 9 Kaveri prototypes and 4 Kaveri core engine prototypes have been developed and accumulated more than 2550 hours of engine testing.
• Kaveri engine was integrated with IL- 76 Aircraft and flight tested.
• Tacit knowledge acquired by the scientists are being applied in aerospace technology and other disciplines.
So far, total expenditure incurred on development of Kaveri engine is Rs2101 crore. Aero engine developed by DRDO has not achieved the required thrust to power the aLight Combat Aircraft (LCA). Therefore, it has been decided to use Kaveri derivative engine (“dry” engine) without after burner for powering Indian Unmanned Combat Aircraft.
Robotics/ Artificial Intelligence
Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR), Bengaluru and Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) {R&DE(E)}, Pune, are prime laboratories of DRDOworking in the area of artificial intelligence and robotics. Miniature Unmanned Ground Vehicle (MINIUGV), RoboSentry and Autonomous Guided Vehicle have already been developed by DRDO and recently a project has been taken for development of Multi Agent Robotics System (MARS). DRDO has also planned to undertake projects for development of robotic products, technologies associated with robotics and technologies associated with robotics and artificial intelligence.In this regard, a national challenge has been initiated to tap talent in robotics and artificial intelligence among students, academia and entrepreneurs/ industry in the areas of robotics related to defence. While DRDO has not been giving fellowships/ grants to entrepreneurs sin the area of robotics and artificial intelligence, it has signed a number of Contract Agreements for Research Services (CARS) projects with academia for developing technologies related to robotics and artificial intelligence.
