On March 07, 2023, the Ministry of Defence signed two significant contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) for the purchase of 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft and three Cadet Training Ships, respectively. This procurement was made official during a ceremony held in New Delhi, in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane, and other senior civil and military officials of MoD. Representatives of HAL and L&T were also present during the signing and exchanging of contracts.
On March 07, 2023, the Ministry of Defence signed two significant contracts with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) for the purchase of 70 HTT-40 Basic Trainer Aircraft and three Cadet Training Ships, respectively. This procurement was made official during a ceremony held in New Delhi, in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Giridhar Aramane, and other senior civil and military officials of MoD. Representatives of HAL and L&T were also present during the signing and exchanging of contracts.
HTT-40 Trainer Aircraft:
The HTT-40 Trainer Aircraft is a fully aerobatic, tandem seat turbo prop aircraft with modern avionics, an air-conditioned cockpit, hot re-fueling, running change over, and zero-zero ejection seats. Its low-speed handling qualities make it an effective training aircraft. The Indian Air Force will use the HTT-40 to address its shortage of basic trainer aircraft for newly inducted pilots. The procurement will include associated equipment, training aids, and simulators. The aircraft is designed to be upgradeable to meet future requirements of the Indian Armed Forces.
The HTT-40 contains approximately 56% indigenous content, with a plan to increase this to over 60% through indigenization of major components and subsystems. HAL will engage domestic private industry, including MSMEs, in its supply chain, creating direct and indirect employment opportunities for thousands of people spread over more than 100 MSMEs. The aircraft will be supplied over a period of six years, providing a boost to the Government’s focus on indigenous design, development, and manufacturing in the defence sector.
Cadet Training Ships:
The Cadet Training Ships will play a crucial role in training officer cadets, including women, at sea after their basic training, in line with the Indian Navy’s future requirements. These ships will also provide training to cadets from friendly countries, strengthening diplomatic relations. Additionally, the ships will be equipped for Search & Rescue, evacuation of people from distress areas, and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
Scheduled for delivery from 2026, these indigenously designed, developed, and constructed ships will be built at L&T shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai. The project will create employment opportunities for 22.5 lakh man-days over a period of four-and-a-half years, encouraging active participation from Indian shipbuilding and associated industries, including MSMEs. This acquisition under the Buy {Indian-IDDM (Indigenously Designed, Developed and Manufactured)} category is a significant step towards achieving self-reliance in the defence sector, promoting indigenous design, development, and manufacturing.
About HAL:
Hindustan Aeronautics was placed under the administrative control of the Ministry of Defence, Government of India in January 1951. The company had previously manufactured aircraft and engines of foreign designs under license, including Prentice, Vampire, and Gnat. However, it also ventured into designing and developing aircraft indigenously.
For More Latest News Click Here
