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‘LCA man’ Ravi Kota, key in operationalisation of IAF's Tejas fleet, picked as next HAL CMD

Mechanical engineer & alumnus of IIM-A & IAS France, Kota was General Manager in HAL’s Light Combat Aircraft division. He was selected from a pool of eight candidates.
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Ravi Kota, known as “LCA man” within defence circles, has been selected to head the state-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) from May this year, once the current Chairman and Managing Director, D.K. Sunil, superannuates at the end of April.

Sources in the defence establishment told ThePrint that Kota, currently Director (Operations) at HAL, has been chosen by the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) and further due process is on.

Kota was among a pool of eight candidates, at least six of whom were from HAL, considered by the Board, which met Thursday.

His appointment comes in the backdrop of delays in the delivery of the Tejas MK1A aircraft by HAL. The delivery has missed several deadlines for many reasons, including delay in delivery of engines by US manufacturer GE but also due to delay in integrating the weapons package and the radar.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has been clear that it will induct the aircraft only when all promises made by HAL that makes the aircraft’s IA variant are fully met.

It is hoped that Kota, with his operational background, would be able to fast-track the deliveries and scale up production to meet the demands of the country.

Incidentally, just before Kota takes over, the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) will hand over a report to the defence ministry on how HAL can be turned into a modern aircraft manufacturing company. The report is expected to be submitted by 31 March.

A mechanical engineering graduate and an alumnus of IIM, Ahmedabad, as well as IAS, Toulouse, France, Kota was earlier General Manager in HAL’s LCA (Light Combat Aircraft) division and was responsible for operationalisation of the LCA Tejas fleet in the IAF.

He led the team to conclude the contract for supplying 83 LCA Mk1A with a contract value of more than Rs 36,000 crore in 2021, and also worked with the IAF for an order of additional 97 LCA Mk1A which would form the backbone of the force in the time to come.

Kota was instrumental in establishing facilities and creating capacity for manufacture of 16 LCA per year and was responsible for delivery of the LCA twin-seater aircraft for the first time in the programme.

According to his HAL biography, Kota led the indigenisation team to enhance the local content in the LCA-Tejas programme and transformed the LCA division to be a lead integrator by successfully outsourcing the major fuselage assemblies to private partners.
 
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HAL says five Tejas Mk-1A jets ready, but delivery to IAF may miss deadline again

NEW DELHI: HAL has announced that five Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets are ready for induction after completing weapons trials, but defence sources say delivery to the
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HAL has announced that five Tejas Mk-1A fighter jets are ready for induction after completing weapons trials, but defence sources say delivery to the Indian Air Force (IAF) is likely to be delayed due to pending certification and operational clearances.

Speaking at a press conference in Hyderabad earlier this week, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Chairman and Managing Director D.K. Sunil said, “Five Tejas Mk-1A aircraft are ready. We have completed firing and missile trials. We would be approaching the IAF to take these five fighters in the current financial year.”

However, sources in the defence and security establishment said that although the jets have successfully completed weapons trials, including the firing of two missiles and the release of a laser-guided bomb, final Staff Qualitative Requirements (SQR) certification and mandatory operational demonstrations are still pending, a requirement for formal induction into service.

“SQRs lay down the IAF’s performance benchmarks for induction. Beyond weapons trials, they cover flight envelope validation, avionics and sensor integration, electronic warfare performance, reliability and maintainability parameters and operational suitability checks. Only after these are demonstrated and certified can the aircraft be formally accepted,” a source explained.

The TNIE also reached out to HAL. “We expect to offer the five aircraft for delivery in March, after which the IAF will finalise acceptance and work out the details of the handover,” a HAL official said.
 
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Aniruddha said:
Hate to break it to you, but missile integration is a complex subject, especially when you don't own the radar's IP.
You have to co-ordinate with multiple local & foreign stakeholders to conduct an RCA, analyse the findings, make changes in accordance to those findings, re-conduct firing trials and then get the missile certified.
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Why even wait for the good-for-nothing HAL? IAF has in-house SDI for missile integration... show HAL how it's done! /s
 
Indian Air Force to review LCA Mark 1A aircraft project in May; deliveries may get delayed further.


Cracking Up Lol GIF by MOODMAN
 
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STEPHEN COHEN said:
The last news I read on Twitter was that
Air to Ground Munitions were not yet integrated for operational use

ASTRA integration work was confirmed
https://twitter.com/x/status/2019100624600854958
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From when did an Air defense interceptor start undertaking deep strike missions?
Now that Astra Mk1 and ASRAAM are both integrated, just accept the damn aircraft and carry out any further integrations post induction if you actually worry about squadron numbers.
 
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Why would the best performing aircraft in bombing face difficulties in air - ground munition testing?
Full load demonstration?
Only difference between Mk1 and Mk1A in bombing role is better weapons load .. probably we are working on that..

Imagine in Mk1 , we certified air - ground role first.. yet we are stuck for the same in Mk1A.
 

HAL wishes to clarify the status of LCA MK1A deliveries to the customer for all stakeholders.

HAL confirms that five aircraft are fully ready for delivery, incorporating major contracted capabilities in accordance with the agreed specifications. An additional nine aircraft have already been built and flown. Upon receipt of engines from GE, these aircraft will be made ready for delivery.

All design and development issues identified are being addressed in an expedited manner. HAL is in active discussions with the Indian Air Force to deliver the aircraft at the earliest.

HAL has received five engines from GE as on date. The supply position from GE is positive, and the future delivery outlook aligns with HAL’s delivery plans.

HAL assures that it will meet the guidance projected for the current Financial Year.media_HAXy3sNbIAA3HdD.png
 
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Ashwin said:
View attachment 49477

This statement is carefully worded. Only "major" capabilities and issues are "being" addressed. Also, the key word "certified" is missing.
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Had it been any other AF in the world, they would have inducted the aircraft straightaway without making a fuss about it and continued weapons integration tests and certification post induction.
 
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