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Journalism of Courage
The first indigenously manufactured Sukhoi-30 will roll out of the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) Ojhar factory next year, said HAL chairman N.R. Mohanty as his organisation gets ready to manufacture the upgraded 140 Sukhoi-30 multi-role aircraft in the country.
‘‘Our plan is to convert the present MiG facilities in setting up the assembly for Sukhois,’’ said Mohanty. The aircraft will be manufactured at Ojhar near Nasik from where the MiGs would come out till a few years back. Currently the factory serves as the MiG maintenance plant. The engines for Su-30 will come from Koraput and the electronics and other accessories from HAL’s Lucknow division.
Over the question of Su-30s being in news till recently for some ‘‘nicks’’ in the engine, Mohanty informed that a team of Russian experts was in the country and went through the problems that have dogged the aircraft engine. ‘‘We are working on them. It is a problem but will be sorted out soon,’’ the chairman said.
HAL already has gained some expertise as far as the aircraft is concerned — having participated in the upgraded variants. While it delivered the first batch without any extra features, subsequent roll-outs saw the aircraft upgraded to meet Indian specifications.
Meanwhile, HAL is also gearing up for the British Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers and a team of engineers will travel to Britain for the same, said Mohanty. Having manufactured the British Jaguar, Mohanty feels the expertise gained on ‘‘Western aircraft’’ will come handy when the production of the Hawk comes to India.
