There seems to be issues with the LUH going by reports coming out in the past few months. How genuine is it , what's being done to remedy it if there's something being done at all & how long will it take to remedy it is anyone's guess.
I believe there's a concerted effort to undermine HAL by a lobby in our security establishment. It's quite clear from the way things are unfolding , else how on earth can we permit Foreign OEMs to bring in a FAL of a 5 decade old design & pitch it in direct competition to Indian OEMs as we're likely to see in the LUH tender going ahead.
Then there's the commercial aviation market for hptrs which's virtually untapped by HAL even with the ALH what to speak of the LUH which is still in development. GoI doesn't realise that by permitting a Foreign OEM to bring in a product like the H-125 to a virgin market like India giving it first movers advantage over the LUH is virtually shooting HAL in the back more so since they've shackled HAL . I can't imagine China ever commiting a monumental blunder like this.
HAL has not done itself any favours either by refusing to reform the way it conducts its operations . Then again being a DPSU with how much freedom HAL operates without interference from MoD is open to speculation.
I've argued many a time in the past that HAL as it is structured today is a dinosaur & will go extinct in some time. The blame will solely lie on the MoD & the PMO for not reforming HAL when it was time to do so. We still haven't run out of time . However I don't see any moves whatsoever by the GoI / MoD to reform HAL.
Result - we have issues like LUH which gives credence to the accusations Dassault Aviation leveled against HAL way back in 2012 . 13 years later the culture remains much the same .
If this logjam isn't broken & trust between the armed forces & HAL isn't restored ASAP with respect to the LUH project then we're looking at the prospect of HAL losing out on this tender & while there may be many here who'd cheer & welcome such an outcome it signifies the demise of indigenous efforts.
I noticed a small detail in PMs speech in parliament on OP sindoor debate.
He said something along the lines that a culture of protest, union etc was allowed to ferment inside DPSUs, a velied dig at HALs work style. That hampered innovation.
Even during first term, when govt tried to bring reforms in HAL, they resisted and found an ally in Congress for their dharna. Apparently it was attack on jobs of hal babus.
Since then, govt has pushed for structural reforms inside DRDO too. Again met with opposition and resistance from DRDO officials. Internal politics > work n innovation.
Since then, I believe govt has likely decided to not bet on a broken drum/ dinousar like HAL and putting hope that it will reform a org deeply integrated with vested interests.
Instead, it's might actually further their irrelevance by developing an aerospace- aviation industry that is not reliant on HAL and is better.
It's like subtle privatisation of the industry which gobbles up HAL in future. I won't be surprised if govt is knowingly allowing Anti-HAL lobby to do it's thing resulting in giving them political space for their movement away from HAL.
It doesn't mean they won't keep HAL afloat for a while. But bring in serious competition. If HAL wanna stay relevant , they need to up their game which they have spectacularly failed at. It's not about Tejas or delays.. it's normal for delays to be there and factors outside there control have much effects on them. But it's the culture which so far, I haven't seen improving barring few things outsourced to private firms.
Then there's the facade of HAL platforms bring indigenous when many of its critical systems are developed by foreign OEMs and only either screwdivered and certified in India. Eg: Flight control system of LUH
Infact, in whole op sindoor and the talks about Indian defense industry.. if there is one DPSU which failed to generate positive momentum is HAL.
While other private n public players saw increase in spotlight.. HAL seems to have even opened further space for private industry.
Even when AMCA details came out for prototype development... Instead of showing confidence by saying they are ready for competition.. their officials worked overtime to deny competition on various grounds.
And I am not commenting on what the imported platform might be or if they will be imported ones only.. they too might be built with JV with indian private sector.. giving the private industry, the hand holding it needs since they are just beginning. That doesn't include nig firms only but MSMEs that will get opportunity too. It's not limited to high end systems but even small things but getting experience in quality Assurance aspect for military grade products.
Many of us hoped that HAL will reform itself but it seems to bet on prevailing with its existing structure and support from certain political factions.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
www.thehindubusinessline.com
www.hindustantimes.com
.
