Bengaluru (Karnataka), [India], November 29 (ANI): Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, on Saturday mentioned that India is witnessing an unprecedented transformation in its aerospace and aviation ecosystem, powered by indigenous applied sciences, trade partnerships, and a whole-of-government method.
Speaking at CSIR-National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) in Bengaluru, the Minister mentioned that the milestones achieved at present mirror Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s imaginative and prescient that ‘Hawai chappal wala bhi Hawai jahaj mein chalega,’ and mark India’s march in direction of changing into a world aviation hub and a self-reliant aerospace manufacturing nation.
The Minister launched the manufacturing model of the indigenous Hansa-3(NG) coach plane, India’s first all-composite airframe two-seater plane designed to satisfy the increasing demand for PPL and CPL coaching. He recalled the Transfer of Technology ceremony held in Delhi earlier this 12 months and expressed satisfaction that inside just some months, the trade associate M/s Pioneer Clean Amps has not solely commenced manufacturing preparations however is establishing a 150 crore facility at Kuppam, Andhra Pradesh, to supply as much as 100 plane yearly, in keeping with the Ministry of Science & Technology’s launch.
Dr. Jitendra Singh mentioned that India would require practically 30,000 pilots within the subsequent 15-20 years, and Hansa-3(NG) represents a important step in direction of fulfilling this home requirement via totally indigenous know-how, decreasing dependence on international coach plane, and creating new avenues of livelihood and entrepreneurship in aviation.
Singh highlighted that India is on observe to be among the many high three nations in home and worldwide passenger site visitors, supported by a robust middle-class inhabitants and a quickly rising financial system. He mentioned the UDAN scheme launched beneath the Prime Minister’s management has democratised air journey and created an ecosystem the place regional connectivity and cost-effective operations are increasing at a report tempo. To meet this surge, the Minister highlighted CSIR-NAL’s ongoing improvement of the 19-seater Light Transport Aircraft SARAS Mk-2, designed for each civilian and army operations. With a pressurised cabin, digital avionics, glass cockpit, autopilot, command-by-wire flight controls, and vital weight and drag discount, the plane will bolster regional connectivity and tackle India’s indigenous short-haul passenger plane requirement.
The Minister mentioned that SARAS Mk-2 is simply the start, as India should now look forward to conceiving and constructing bigger aircraft-including the 19-seater class, in the long term to satisfy its rising aviation wants.
During the go to, Singh inaugurated the Iron Bird Facility for SARAS Mk-2, describing it as an important platform for full-system integration, floor testing, and validation of main plane subsystems. He famous that such services considerably scale back flight-testing dangers and speed up improvement timelines, enabling engineers to determine and resolve design and software program points early. The Minister emphasised that CSIR-NAL’s superior R&D ecosystem, working concurrently with civil aviation, defence companies, DRDO and personal trade, exemplifies the whole-of-government and whole-of-society method repeatedly advocated by the Prime Minister.
The Minister additionally inaugurated a devoted manufacturing facility for High Altitude Platforms (HAPs), India’s initiative to hitch the choose league of countries growing solar-powered unmanned plane able to flying above 20 km altitude for long-endurance missions. With only some international gamers such because the US, UK, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand and Japan investing in comparable applied sciences, India’s entry into this area demonstrates its rising scientific capabilities. CSIR-NAL’s subscale car has already achieved 7.5 km altitude and over 10 hours endurance, and the primary full-scale flight to twenty km is focused for 2027. The Minister mentioned that HAPs provide an economical various to satellites for surveillance, telecommunication, and environmental monitoring, opening a brand new frontier for India’s aerospace sector.
Singh inaugurated the NAviMet system at HAL Airport, highlighting CSIR-NAL’s long-standing contribution to aviation security via DRISHTI, AWOS and NAviMet methods deployed throughout civil and defence airfields. With over 175 methods already operational, NAviMet supplies real-time visibility and climate parameters important for secure touchdown and take-off, reflecting one other profitable instance of Indigenous Technology in public-private collaboration.
In a major transfer in direction of strengthening India’s defence manufacturing ecosystem, the Minister witnessed the formalisation of CSIR-NAL’s collaboration with M/s Solar Defence & Aerospace Ltd. for the event of the indigenous 150-kg class Loitering Munition UAV. Powered by NAL’s licensed Wankel engine, the UAV will provide a 900 km vary, 6-9 hours endurance, a 5 km service ceiling and superior capabilities resembling GPS-denied navigation, low radar cross-section, and AI-enabled goal identification. The Minister mentioned that this PPP mannequin epitomises the spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat, guaranteeing that India develops important defence applied sciences inside the nation whereas constructing industrial capability for commercial-scale manufacturing.
Addressing the gathering, the minister mentioned that CSIR-NAL has proven how authorities laboratories and personal trade can collectively drive nationwide progress by making indigenous merchandise viable, aggressive, and globally related. He inspired the establishment to develop its outreach to traders, younger entrepreneurs, and the general public via trendy communication instruments, guaranteeing that India’s scientific achievements are seen and provoking to the subsequent technology.
Dr. Jitendra Singh concluded by stating that the achievements showcased at present, from coach plane to regional passenger plane, high-altitude platforms, unmanned defence methods, and aviation meteorology, usually are not remoted developments, however a part of a transformative nationwide effort to make India a world aviation hub by 2035 and a completely developed nation by 2047. He mentioned that establishments like CSIR-NAL will play a defining position in shaping India’s aerospace future, and expressed confidence that the subsequent part of progress will see even bigger milestones and deeper trade involvement. (ANI)