SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is exploring collaboration with Indian private sector companies to address the issue of short-life turbine blades in the Rolls-Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk. 951 turbofan engines powering the Hawk 132 Advanced Jet Trainers (AJTs) in the Indian Air Force (IAF) fleet.
The problem of premature blade wear has been a persistent issue for the Adour engine, not just in India but also in other countries that operate the Hawk aircraft. While Rolls-Royce provided an interim solution a few years ago, it has yet to be implemented. The short lifespan of the turbine blades has significantly impacted the operational efficiency and maintenance costs of the Hawk 132 fleet.
The Hawk program in India was initiated in 2004, and to date, over 120 Hawk Mk132 aircraft have been delivered to the IAF and the Indian Navy. HAL’s production line in Bengaluru is supported by comprehensive maintenance capabilities at Air Force Station Bidar and INS Dega. HAL overhauls Hawk 132s at a rate of 10-12 aircraft annually.
The air force is estimated to have around 98 Hawk 132s in service, that were ordered at total of 106 aircraft in two tranches. The 2010 order included an additional 17 aircraft for the Indian navy.
By seeking assistance from private sector companies, HAL aims to leverage their expertise and innovative solutions to improve the durability and lifespan of the turbine blades. This collaboration could potentially lead to significant cost savings and enhance the operational readiness of the Hawk 132 fleet.
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